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

Vox populi
22 Mar, 2023

Vox populi

History will not judge kindly those who throw the laws of this land in the bin to keep just one man away from power.
Iraq’s wounds
22 Mar, 2023

Iraq’s wounds

TWO decades after the US military machine — aided by the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ — stormed into Iraq, ...
Mental health epidemic
22 Mar, 2023

Mental health epidemic

THERE are mounting stressors in the day-to-day existence of average Pakistanis. Rising inflation and unemployment...
Petroleum subsidy
Updated 21 Mar, 2023

Petroleum subsidy

The govt seems more interested in reviving its political capital through ad hoc measures rather than fixing economy.
Country on edge
Updated 21 Mar, 2023

Country on edge

In this war of petty egos, ordinary people cannot continue to suffer.
Afghan funding cut
21 Mar, 2023

Afghan funding cut

AS the world grapples with multiple crises, the miseries of the people of Afghanistan seem to have been relegated to...