Former Senator, 3 Others Killed in Car Bomb Blast in Pakistan

A former Senator of PTI, Hidayat Ullah and three others were assassinated in a car bomb blast in the Damadola area of Mamond Bajaur tribal district bordering Afghanistan in Pakistan on Wednesday. Investigation has hinted that the explosion was triggered by a remote-control device.

Hidayat Ullah became victim to the car bomb blast while he was in the Damadola area in connection with a by-election campaign for his nephew Najeeb Ullah Khan. The by-election for PK 22 Provincial Assembly Constituency is to be held on July 12.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist incident and mourned for the deaths of the ex-senator and other persons in the bomb blast.

Ullah was elected as an independent senator twice — from 2012 to 2018 and 2018 to 2024 — besides serving as the Upper House’s Standing Committee for Aviation’s chairman and a member of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), newspaper The News International said.