BAJAUR: The total number of deaths from the suicide bombing on a gathering of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal here on Sunday has climbed to 63, said a senior health official here on Wednesday.

Dr Liaqat Ali Khan, medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital, Khar, told a press briefing that 43 bodies were brought to the hospital, while 13 bodies were taken away by their relatives from the site of the blast. He added that seven injured died during treatment in different hospitals in Peshawar and Lower Dir on Wednesday.

Dr Ali said three bodies were buried at a local cemetery in Khar by the Rescue 1122 as nobody came to claim them.

The official said a total 123 people were wounded in the incident, who had been under treatment in different hospitals, mostly in Peshawar.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and four children were injured after unknown assailants opened fire at them inside their home in Babar Shah area of Salarzai tehsil, police and Recue 1122 officials said on Wednesday.

They said the incident occurred on Tuesday night when unknown assailants started firing at the family of Zahid Khan inside his house, leaving one person, namely Khalid Khan, 40, dead on the spot and four children injured.

Rescue 1122 officials said the wounded children identified as Maaz Khan, 8, Mariam Bibi, 13, Hasana Bib, 9 and Marwa Bibi, 6, were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

A statement issued from the district police office claimed the police had identified those involved in the firing, and efforts were underway to arrest them as a case had been registered against them.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2023