Pakistan's top religious leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman today survived a bid on his life when a suicide bomber attacked him outside a rally venue in the restive Balochistan province, killing at least two people and injuring 30 others.
The blast occurred when the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief was leaving after addressing a massive rally in Quetta where over 20,000 of his supporters had gathered, officials said.
"I was the target of the attack but God saved me. My vehicle was bullet and bomb proof so I survived but the vehicle has been destroyed," Rehman said.
Terming the attack as a suicide bombing, Rehman said, "I don't know who wants to kill me. I am religious man and chief of a religious party which wants peace in the country".
The blast took place immediately after the rally ended, which was held in honour of Mufti Mehmood at the Sadiq Shaheed stadium, the Dawn quoted eyewitnesses as saying.
Police said the blast was work of a suicide bomber who detonated up to eight kilogrammes of explosive material.
According to hospital officials, two JUI-F workers were confirmed dead while up to 30 people were wounded in the attack.
Rehman has survived two previous attempts made on his life in March 2011, when two back to back suicide attacks targeted him.
