The 7 May 2013 bombing at an election rally is the deadliest of a series of attacks that hit the town of Doaba in the district of Hangu[3] which has a history of sectarian violence.[6] Recently this region became a flashpoint for violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims[5] as Pakistan prepares to hold a general election and provincial elections on 11 May, which will mark the country's first democratic transition of power.[4]
| 7 May 2013 Syed Janan election rally bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Doaba town, Hangu District, Pakistan |
| Date | 7 May 2013 12:51 – (UTC+05:00) |
| Target | Mufti Syed Janan[1] |
Attack type | Suicide attack |
| Deaths | 18 [2] -25[3][4] |
| Injured | Over 40[5] |
A suicide bomber attacked a rally for Syed Janan, a candidate of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party.[1] Mufti Syed Janan was reportedly the main target but he left the scene with minor injuries.[1] At least 18 people were killed and 40 people including 11 children[7] were injured in the attack of 7 May 2013, which raised the total number of fatalities, in pre-election violence since April, to over 100.[2] According to the police officer Haleem Khan the suicide bomber was on a motorcycle and detonated near the vehicle carrying election candidate Syed Janan.[2]
Janan later told the press, "I was on my election campaign and coming to my vehicle when the bomber blew himself up. I received some injuries but survived. Two of my guards were seriously wounded."[4]
It was one of the attacks that targeted candidates from Islamist parties, indicating a new trend in the pre-election violence, which had only occurred with secular parties before this week.[2] A curfew was imposed after these attacks. Investigations are going on and the site is cordoned off.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Bomb hits Pakistani political party supportive of Taliban | News | DW.DE | 07.05.2013". DW.DE. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d "The Durango Herald 05/07/2013 | Bombing connected to election kill 18 in Pakistan". Durangoherald.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ a b Aqsa Ishtiaque. "Hangu: Blast at JU-F rally kills 11, injures 35 | AAJ News". Aaj.tv. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Web Desk (5 May 2013). "11 dead in blast at JUI-F election rally – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Bombs kill 15 on Pakistan campaign trail". NewsDaily. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "BBC News — Pakistan bomb: 21 die in Hangu Shia suicide attack". Bbc.co.uk. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Curfew in Hangu after attack on JUI-F rally kills ten". Dawn.Com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.