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Eight dead in suicide attack on ANP rally

* ANP candidate for NA-40 injured
* Party condemns blast, blames government for ‘failure’ to protect citizens

Staff Report

MIRANSHAH: A suicide attack on a public meeting in North Waziristan on Monday left at least eight people dead and a dozen wounded, including a candidate for the National Assembly.

According to sources, the bomber blew himself up at an Awami National Party (ANP) gathering in Aidak, some 15 kilometres east of Miranshah. Nisar Ali Khan, candidate for NA-40 Miranshah, was mildly injured in the blast.

Suicide attack: According to APP, the attack was a suicide car bombing. It quoted sources in the political administration as saying that the bomber detonated himself near Nisar’s vehicle.

It said eight people were killed and 13 others sustained critical wounds. The dead include former ANP president Haji Anwar Shah and ANP leader Malik Bakhtud Din. It confirmed that Nisar Khan was safe and out of danger.

The incident was the second such attack on an ANP public meeting in the past three days. On Saturday, a bomb ripped through a similar gathering in Charsadda district.

Govt responsible: Condemning the attack, ANP NWFP President Afrasiab Khattak said that the government was responsible for such acts of terrorism, as it had failed to provide security to the people.

Talking to Daily Times, he said anti-democracy forces could not bear to see ANP’s emergence as a political force in the province. “Hence, they are targeting its rallies and public gatherings to keep its voters away from supporting the party.”

He was unable to comment on the condition of the injured party candidate.

Afrasiab said the ANP leadership had already demanded that the government either provide them security or allow them to protect themselves. He said the government had failed to provide any security. The ANP leader also expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the two blasts.

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