At least 16 killed in bombing at Pakistan election rally

PARACHINAR, Pakistan -- A bomb blast tore through a political rally held by an Islamist party in northwest Pakistan on Monday. The attack, claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, killed 16 people and underscored an increase in violence ahead of a key election set for Saturday.

The explosion, at a rally held in the village of Sewak in the Kurram tribal area, was the latest attack on candidates, political offices and election-related events as the historic vote for a new government approaches.

Much of the violence is believed to have been carried out by the Taliban against three liberal and secular parties, but Monday’s blast targeted a gathering of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, which generally has a more favorable relationship with the militant group.

The bomb, which was apparently planted near the main stage of the rally, killed 16 and left 44 wounded, said Umar Khan, a doctor at the nearby Sada hospital where many of the wounded were initially taken.

Two party leaders who were speaking at the event escaped unharmed.

About 2,500 people had gathered at a local religious school to hear the candidates speak, said one man who was in the crowd, Sabir Gul. The massive explosion came just as one of the candidates ended his speech and was leaving the stage, he said.

One of the candidates, Ainuddin Shakir, told a local television station that the bomb appeared to have been detonated by remote control.

Another resident, Mohammad Jamil, attended the meeting with his brother and was in the dining hall eating when the explosion occurred. Political parties often give food to people at rallies who sometimes travel from nearby villages to hear candidates speak. Jamil said people attending the rally had been searched as they went into the gathering.

“There was a deafening sound that stunned me for a while, but I quickly moved out of the dining hall,� he said, describing a “hell-like� situation. “There were countless people bleeding and crying for help. My brother Khalil was among them.�

The Taliban has claimed responsibility in recent weeks for a string of attacks against secular Pakistani parties that have in general supported military intervention against the militants in the tribal regions.

Claiming responsibility for Monday’s bombing, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said the attack was aimed at a candidate who had appeared at the rally -- Munir Khan Orakzai. Ahsan said Orakzai was targeted because he supported operations against militants in the tribal areas when he was previously an independent parliamentarian.

Saturday’s historic vote would be the first time in Pakistan’s history that a democratically elected civilian government completes its term and hands over power to another.

However, the ongoing attacks against candidates, their supporters and political offices have cast a shadow over the momentous occasion, and may deter many people from going to the polls.

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