Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah has claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration did not provide security to their workers’ convention despite approaching them.

“We had approached the management for the convention, but the management did not provide security, and excused to give security,” he said on Aaj News show Spot Light on Monday. “When the chief secretary came, there was heavy security with him. But security was not provided to rallies.”

At least 54 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up during the public gathering of JUI-F in KP’s Bajaur district. A terrorist organisation claimed responsibility for the attack.

The religiopolitical party condemned the blast and demanded an inquiry into the explosion. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought responsibility from the interim government of KP, which has been grappling with a rise in militancy since the end of the ceasefire deal with the banned TTP.

Hamdullah was supposed to participate in the convention, however, he could not as the JUI-F leader was somewhere else.

He prayed for the martyrs and added that many religious scholars died in the terrorist attack.

At least three attempts have been made on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he said and added that at least 22 ticket holders of JUI died in the terrorist attacks.

Interim information minister of KP Feroze Jamal was also on the show. He condemned the blast and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

Jamal spoke about the meeting convened on the law and order situation by the Home Department. He added that permission for public gatherings was a must.

The investigation into the blast was under way and the provincial government would soon inform about it, said the caretaker information minister.