In the latest incident in Bajaur, a candidate from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party narrowly escaped a bomb attack targeting his vehicle. The targeted individual, Qari Khairullah, vying for the PK-19 constituency, survived the remote-controlled bomb blast that occurred in Mamund tehsil within the Malakand division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Despite damage to Khairullah’s vehicle, the JUI-F leader emerged unharmed.
Expressing condemnation, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri criticized the Ministry of Interior for perceived negligence in fulfilling its responsibilities. Ghauri questioned the motives behind targeting JUI-F, highlighting concerns about the Election Commission’s apparent inaction and raising suspicions about forces threatened by the party’s popularity. He pointed to evolving methods of interference impacting the region’s peace and security.
The attack remains unclaimed by any group, and investigators are actively exploring the incident’s motives. The lack of a clear responsibility claim adds complexity to an already tense situation.
This event follows closely on the heels of an earlier attack on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who survived an assault just days before. Fazlur Rehman had expressed concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, suggesting a potential delay in the election date to address security issues. In a press statement in Dera Ismail Khan, he underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that recent attacks on JUI-F members’ vehicles indicated a broader challenge to maintaining law and order.
As the investigations continue, the region grapples with heightened security risks, and the JUI-F contends with mounting concerns over the safety of its members amidst the election season. The broader implications of these incidents on the electoral process and regional stability remain subjects of ongoing scrutiny and debate.
