7 May 2013 Syed Janan election rally bombing

The 7 May 2013 bombing at an election rally is the deadliest of a series of attacks that hit the town of Doaba in the district of Hangu[3] which has a history of sectarian violence.[6] Recently this region became a flashpoint for violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims[5] as Pakistan prepares to hold a general election and provincial elections on May 11, which will mark the country’s first democratic transition of power.[4]

A suicide bomber attacked a rally for Syed Janan, a candidate of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party.[1] Mufti Syed Janan was reportedly the main target but he left the scene with minor injuries.[1] At least 18 people were killed and 40 people including 11 children[7] were injured in the attack of 7 May 2013, which raised the total number of fatalities, in pre-election violence since April, to over 100.[2] According to the police officer Haleem Khan the suicide bomber was on a motorcycle and detonated near the vehicle carrying election candidate Syed Janan.[2]

Janan later told the press, “I was on my election campaign and coming to my vehicle when the bomber blew himself up. I received some injuries but survived. Two of my guards were seriously wounded.”[4]

It was one of the attacks that targeted candidates from Islamist parties, indicating a new trend in the pre-election violence, which had only occurred with secular parties before this week.[2] A curfew was imposed after these attacks. Investigations are going on and the site is cordoned off.[7]