QUETTA: At least four people were killed while five were wounded in a bomb blast at a PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibi on Tuesday, police and health officials said.
The medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Sibi, Dr Babar, confirmed the injuries and casualties. The incident comes just nine days before the February 8 general elections.
According to Sibi Station House Officer (SHO) Zakaullah Gujjar, the injured persons were being moved to the Civil Hospital. He said the condition of most of them was critical and expressed fears that the death toll could rise.
Gujjar said security forces reached the blast site immediately after the incident was reported and cordoned off the area. “A bomb disposal squad is collecting evidence from the crime scene,” he added.
Separately, the PTI said the blast occurred at an election rally organised by party-backed candidate Saddam Tareen, who is contesting the upcoming polls from the NA-253 (Ziarat) constituency.
It said three PTI workers were killed and seven were injured in the incident while Tareen remained unhurt.
“We strongly condemn this heartbreaking incident and demand that attention should be given to suppressing terrorists instead of PTI workers,” the party said in a post on social media platform X.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Health Secretary Abdullah Khan Noorzai had imposed an emergency at hospitals across Quetta and Sibi, according to a statement issued by the provincial health department.
“Instructions have been issued to Sibi’s medical superintendent to provide the best healthcare facilities to patients. All doctors and staff are instructed to be present on duty immediately,” the statement said.
It added that instructions were issued to increase the security of hospitals to tackle any untoward situation, gather medicines, medical equipment, lab necessities, and ample stock of blood.
In a post on X, the Election Commission of Pakistan said it had taken notice of the incident and summoned a report from Balochistan’s chief secretary and police chief.
