Police officers and other officials visit the site of a suicide bombing at Swabi.—AP

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up near a police checkpoint in Swabi on Wednesday, killing ten people and wounding more than 20, police and hospital officials said.

Police chief Abdullah Jan said the checkpoint was close to a camp set up by a religious political party for a public meeting in the town.

“Seven people died on the spot and three more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital,” he said.

“We have recovered the body parts of the suicide bomber.” Nurul Wahid, the doctor in charge of the emergency ward at the state-run Swabi hospital, confirmed the toll.

“We have 10 bodies. The dead included two policemen also,” he said. A total of 21 people were receiving treatment, Wahid added.

The meeting was planned by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The event was cancelled after the bombing.

Rehman was on his way to the venue when the blast happened, party spokesman Jalil Jan told AFP.

“He is safe and the meeting has been cancelled,” Jan told AFP. “We can't immediately identify the attackers. We don't know who is involved. But we can say the target appears to be the JUI leadership.

“Six party supporters were martyred and seven wounded,” he said.

Police official Hayatullah Khan told AFP Rehman's convoy was set to enter the town when the blast hit.

“We were lined up and party members came out from a nearby reception camp. Suddenly there was a huge blast amid welcome slogans by party workers. Shrapnel hit me and I received injuries to my head and leg,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Balanced approach
Updated 02 Jun, 2023

Balanced approach

Only a legitimate government may be able to take the country out of its present crisis.
Rise in attacks
02 Jun, 2023

Rise in attacks

AN enduring security dilemma for Pakistan has been the issue of cross-border havens in Afghanistan for militants,...
Narrowing the gap
02 Jun, 2023

Narrowing the gap

THE rupee made a substantial recovery of 11.5 against the dollar in the open market a day after the State Bank...
Free, fair & timely
Updated 01 Jun, 2023

Free, fair & timely

The stakeholders need to take a step back and let democracy take its course.
Virtual SCO summit
01 Jun, 2023

Virtual SCO summit

HOSTING multilateral summits is a matter of great prestige for states, as world leaders gather at the same table to...
Missing anchorperson
Updated 01 Jun, 2023

Missing anchorperson

IT gives insight into the obduracy of those in whose custody Imran Riaz Khan is being held that multiple appeals ...