Solved case · 2023
The short answer
On 30 July 2023, a suicide bomber attacked a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) political rally in Khar, Bajaur District, Pakistan, killing at least 63 people and injuring nearly 200. Islamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility the following day.
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Suggest coverage for 2023 Khar bombingOn 30 July 2023, a suicide bombing struck a political rally organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F) in Khar, the main town of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. JUI-F is a conservative political and religious party led by Fazal-ur-Rehman that has expressed support for the Taliban government in Afghanistan. At the time of the attack, the party was preparing for a general election following the dissolution of Pakistan's National Assembly, and religious parties were seeking to capitalize on an ongoing economic crisis and the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The bombing occurred against a backdrop of a long-running insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that began in 2004, peaked in intensity in the late 2000s and early 2010s — a period that included two earlier suicide bombings in Khar in January and December 2010 — and slowed to a low-intensity conflict by 2017. Terrorist activity in the region increased again during the 2020s, with major protests erupting in January 2023 over the deteriorating security situation.
JUI-F had organized a workers' convention on 30 July 2023. At around 4 p.m., with more than 400 party members and supporters gathered, a suicide bomber approached the stage and detonated an explosive vest. At least 63 people were killed and nearly 200 others were injured, including many children. Among the dead was Maulana Zia Ullah, a local JUI-F leader; it was the second assassination attempt made against him. On 31 July, the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–KP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bombing drew condemnation from multiple parties. The Pakistani Taliban condemned the attack, as did Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government, who wrote on Twitter that "such crimes cannot be justified in any way." Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and offered condolences to victims' families. Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari's party issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives" and calling for the elimination of "terrorists, their facilitators and planners" to establish peace in the country. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb stated on social media that "religion of terrorists is only terrorism" and that ending terrorism was essential for Pakistan's survival and integrity.
No individual has been named as charged, convicted, or otherwise identified as the perpetrator beyond the organizational claim of responsibility by IS–KP.
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa begins.
A suicide bombing occurs in Khar.
A second suicide bombing occurs in Khar.
The civil war in the region slows to a low-intensity conflict.
Major protests erupt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against deteriorating security situation.
A suicide bomber detonates an explosive vest at a JUI-F workers' convention in Khar, killing at least 63 people and injuring nearly 200, including local JUI-F leader Maulana Zia Ullah.
Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–KP) claims responsibility for the bombing.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Local JUI-F leader killed in the bombing; it was the second assassination attempt on him.[3]
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