Political leader among 14 killed in Pakistan suicide blast
Islamabad, July 11 : At least 14 people, including a political leader, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up late on Tuesday in Peshawar in Pakistan, police said.
Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Barrister Haroon Bilour was among the deceased. The blast also wounded many people, Geo News reported, citing police.
The explosion occurred moments after Bilour arrived at the venue, near the stage, to address supporters at the meeting as welcoming party members and admirers engaged in a display of fireworks, which the bomber made use of as his cover.
The late ANP candidate was set to contest the July 25 elections from Peshawar's PK-78 constituency.
Nearly eight kilos of TNT explosives were used in the blast, Qazi Jamil, the capital city police officer (CCPO) of Peshawar said.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.
Speaking about the incident, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retired) Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan condemned the terrorist attack and termed it a "weakness of security institutions".
The attack was a conspiracy against the transparent elections, the CEC said, noting that the provincial governments were ordered to provide fool-proof security to all candidates.
On the other hand, ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the government had failed to provide security to the party. "Perhaps someone wishes to sabotage the elections... wants to push ANP out of the electoral race," he said.
However, the "ANP will fully participate in the elections", he added.
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50% of US student visas cancelled under Trump affect Indians: Study
Washington: A study by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reveals that Indians account for 50% of the 327 student visa revocations carried out by the United States since the Trump administration. The US government, using Artificial Intelligence to screen social media posts, has been targeting international students, including those without any history of protest, for visa cancellations and removals under the “catch and revoke” program.
The Congress party, led by Jairam Ramesh, has raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of these cancellations, which have instilled fear and uncertainty among affected students. The Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian embassy and consulate are in contact with the impacted students to offer assistance.
The study highlights that 50% of the affected students were on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and had already graduated. The report describes these actions as unprecedented and calls for greater transparency and accountability. Additionally, the AILA advocates for reforms that would allow students to appeal the terminations of their SEVIS records without affecting their employment status.
Countries such as China, South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh have also been affected, with China accounting for the second-highest number of revocations after India. Many of these students faced police interactions for minor offenses, though most were not charged or convicted.
