The prime target of attack, Gandapur was brought to Dera Ismail Khan in critical condition where he succumbed to his wounds.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the assault describing Gandapur's killing of their colleague militants as the motive.

In the beginning of the month, a bombing took place in Ramzak Tehsil of North Waziristan at the office of Malik Aurangjeb Khan, Pakistan Movement of Justice's candidate for NA-48 (Tribal Area-IX), leaving 10 people injured.

[1] A week before the current attack in Bannu, a bomb planted in a motorcycle was remotely exploded at an election campaign of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's PK–89 candidate Shein Malik in the Takhti Khel area of the city.

A member of Pakistan Movement of Justice, Gandapur had served as KPK provincial minister of Agriculture and was to contest elections on PK-99.

[7] His brother and former provincial Law Minister of KPK, Israr Ullah Khan Gandapur was killed in a suicide explosion at his residence.

The other five politicians included Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s chairman Imran Khan, Awami National Party leaders Asfandyar Wali and Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Qaumi Watan Party's head Aftab Sherpao and Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed.

[11] Gandapur was going for an election meeting when a suicide bomber, carrying around 10 kg of explosive material in his vest,[12] blew himself up near his vehicle.

In a tweet, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Asif Ghafoor wrote that Chief of Army staff expressed his grief over the incident.