ISLAMABAD – The government of Turkey has condemned a suicide bomb attack inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa capital at a political rally late Tuesday which killedat least 21 people.

“We learned with sorrow that a terrorist attack perpetrated at an electionrally in Peshawar resulted in the loss of lives of many and left manyothers wounded,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesdaymorning.

“We condemn this heinous terrorist attack and wish Allah’s mercy upon thosewho lost their lives, a speedy recovery to the wounded, and convey ourcondolences to the friendly government and brotherly people of Pakistan,”the statement added.

The bombing took place in Yakatoot in the city of Peshawar, where the AwamiNational Party (ANP) was holding a rally.

A senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP) and candidate for PK-78,Haroon Bilour was among 21 people who were martyred in an explosion inPeshawar on Tuesday night.

Haroon was the son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who washimself martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar in 2012.

Meanwhile, the responsibility for the Peshawar suicide blast has beenclaimed by the Pakistan faction of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban.