At least 35 people were killed and 200 injured in a bombing at a political rally in northwest Pakistan on Sunday.

The explosion occurred in the town of Khar, located in the Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, close to the Afghanistan border.

The rally was being held by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a significant Islamic political force that is part of the government coalition in Pakistan's parliament. Among the victims was Maulana Ziaullah, a regional leader of the JUI-F.

Authorities suspect the explosion to be a possible suicide attack, and security forces have cordoned off the area to investigate further. The death toll is expected to rise, leading to a declared health emergency at the district hospital.

Rescue operations are ongoing to aid the injured, with some being transported by helicopter to nearby Peshawar for treatment.

The motive behind the possible terrorist attack is yet to be ascertained as authorities continue their investigation. The political gathering served as an opportunity for the JUI-F to rally support ahead of an upcoming election scheduled for later this year.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation.

"This is a heinous act of terrorism and those responsible will be brought to justice," Sharif said.

The attack has sparked outrage in Pakistan, with many people calling for the government to do more to protect its citizens from terrorism. (ILKHA)