Quetta: At least 28 people were killed and over 40 others injured on Wednesday in two separate explosions targeting election candidates in Balochistan province, just a day before general elections in Pakistan, local media reported.
The first blast was reported outside the election office of independent candidate Asfandyar Kakar in Pishin a little after noon, local police said. The blast claimed lives of at least 15 people’s lives while over 30 were injured.
Kakar is contesting elections from NA-265 constituency and Balochistan Assembly constituencies – PB-47 and PB-48.
The second blast took place outside the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) office in the Qilla Saifullah district shortly afterwards. At least 12 people were killed and over 30 others injured in an explosion outside an independent candidate party’s office in Balochistan’s Pishin, Geo News reported.
The injured have been shifted to the Tehsil Hospital Khanozai, while the bodies have also been transferred, the hospital’s MS Habib told Geo News.
Habib said most of the injured are in critical condition.
Following the blast, an emergency has been imposed across hospitals in Quetta for which additional staff has also been called.
He added that operation theatres with the staff are ready to treat injured at the Trauma Centre, Civil Hospital, BMC, Benazir and Sheikh Zayed Hospital.
The independent candidate was not present inside his office when the explosion took place in PP-47 in Pishin.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken note of the blast and sought report from Balochistan chief secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Geo News reported.
A spokesperson for the ECP said directives have been issued to take action against those involved in such incidents.
Speaking with Geo News, Kakar said that the blast happened in a motorcycle outside his election office
According to Dawn.com, Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki has condemned the blast in Pishin and sought a report from the interior ministry.
In a statement, he expressed deep sorrow and regret over the lives lost, instructing officials to use all available resources to arrest those involved in the incidents.
Rise in violence
The twin blasts took place just a day after nine grenade attacks targeted election offices and polling stations in the region.
Expressing concern over the escalating violence, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement condemning all acts of violence against political parties and candidates.
According to a recent security report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan saw a significant rise in violence-related fatalities and injuries in 2023. The country witnessed 1,524 fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations, marking a record six-year high.
The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan bore the brunt of the violence, with over 90% of all fatalities and 84% of attacks occurring in these regions, including terrorist incidents and security operations.
Recent clashes and clearance operations in Mach and Kolpur towns of Balochistan resulted in the deaths of 24 terrorists over three days, with four security personnel and two civilians martyred during these operations.
In separate incidents, an independent candidate was fatally shot in KP’s Bajaur district, while a worker of the Awami National Party (ANP) was killed during the party’s election campaign in Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah.
The violence continued with a series of bomb and grenade attacks across Balochistan, claiming the life of one individual. Additionally, 10 police officers lost their lives in an attack on the Chodwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan, KP.
In another incident, three children were injured in a grenade attack on the election office of a PPP candidate in Hub, with six more grenade attacks reported on proposed polling stations, perpetrators unknown.
(With inputs from agencies)
