Four killed in a blast as MMA candidate Akram Durrani's convoy targeted in Bannu

At least four dead and 31 injured in an explosion near the convoy of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu on Friday morning.

Earlier reports had stated that the explosion targetted the convoy of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl’s Akram Khan Durrani, who is contesting on an MMA ticket from NA-35 (Bannu).

Durrani, who was heading back from an election rally near North Waziristan, remained safe in the remote control blast, District Police Officer (DPO) Bannu Khurram Rasheed said.

The blast occurred 50 meters away from the convoy, 40 policemen were deployed at the venue.

The injured were taken to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Bannu for treatment, where officials confirmed the death toll had risen to four while 32 injured were undergoing treatment.

KP Inspector General (IG) Mohammad Tahir said that three police personnel were also among those injured in the attack which occurred within the limits of Haved police station.

Akram Khan Durrani shared that this is the fifth attack on him. “The police and institutions had told me about the security threats,” he said, adding that his vehicle has been destroyed in the incident.

"I remained safe but four of my allies have been martyred," he remarked.

Caretaker Chief Minister Dost Mohammad Khan condemned the incident and summoned an emergency meeting to discuss the security situation in the aftermath of the attack.

Durrani is contesting the election on NA-35 (Bannu) against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on a Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) ticket.

Durrani has served as the Federal Minister for Housing and Works in the last federal government.

This is the third major attack in KPK during election campaigning, just days ahead of the general election 2018.

On Monday, Awami National Party (ANP) candidate from Peshawar's PK-78 Haroon Bilour and 19 others were killed in a suicide blast.