Suicide bomber blasts near vehicle of PTI electoral candidate in DI Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Sardar Ikramullah Gandapur was among four injured as a suicide bomber targeted his vehicle in DI Khan’s Kolachi Tehsil on Sunday, police officials said. Suicide bombing in Pakistan was introduced by Deobandi takfiri militants of banned outfits such as hatemongering Sipah-e-Sahaba  (ASWJ) through its subsidiary Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, named after its founder Haq Nawaz Jhangvi (belonging to Jhang district of Punjab province.)

Gandapur is a Sunni politician and his brother who was a minister was killed in a terrorist attack.

The injured have been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital for treatment, the district police officer (DPO) said.

“Ikramullah’s guards and driver have also been injured in the attack,” the DPO said further, adding that their condition is critical.

The DPO informed that Gandapur was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital’s operation theatre owing to his injuries.

Sources said Gandapur was going home after an election meeting when the incident occurred.

Following the incident, security forces and police reached the site and cordoned off the area. 

Investigations are under way, the police said, adding that severed limbs of the suicide bomber have also been recovered from the blast site.  

The former agriculture minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is contesting the July 25 polls from PK-99 (DI Khan-V).

Ikramullah’s brother, Israrullah Gandapur, a PTI provincial minister, was killed in a suicide bombing in October 2013 in Kolachi in a suicide attack. 

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in a tweet, condemned the attack on his party candidate and wished him a speedy recovery. 

It is also relevant to add here that PTI has formed an electoral alliance and adjustments with Shia party Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen.