Dozens killed and 200 injured in suicide bombing at Pakistan political rally

Footage shows wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion, as Sam Holder reports

At least 54 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric in Pakistan.

Nearly 200 people were also injured during the incident in the northwestern Bajur district, which borders Afghanistan.

On Monday, the Islamic State terrorist cell claimed responsibility for the attack. The group operate in Afghanistan and is an enemy of the Taliban.

Victims of the bombing were buried in Bajur, on Monday, as mass funerals took place.

Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the district's capital, when the explosion took place. At least 1,000 people were present when the bomb exploded.

Officials were announcing the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, when the bomb exploded.

Police said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, who detonated his explosives vest close to the stage where several senior leaders of the party were sitting.

Gul Akbar, whose 11-year-old son was injured by the blast, said his entire family was in a state of shock.

"What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong," he said.

Mohammad Wali said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the explosion temporarily deafened him.

"I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded throwing me away to the ground," he said.

"We came to the meeting with enthusiasm, but ended up at the hospital seeing crying wounded people and sobbing relatives taking bodies of their loved ones."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi and other leaders condemned the attack, and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to those affected.

Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead, while Senator Abdur Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also onstage but escaped unhurt.

Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally. He is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad.

His party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected to take place in October or November.

Bajur had been a safe haven for Islamic militants until recently, when Pakistan's military carried out large-scale operations to eliminate their presence from the region.

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