ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the bomb blast near a public meeting of Jamiat Ulema-i-Isalm-Fazl (JUI-F) on Thursday evening, which caused loss of lives and injuries.

The President and the Prime Minister, in their separate messages, deplored the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

According to media reports, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman narrowly escaped the bomb blast. The Maulana had left the venue on the conclusion of meeting when the explosion occurred.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2014