QUETTA: At least 24 people were killed and scores injured in twin bomb explosions in Balochistan’s Pishin and Qilla Saifullah districts on Wednesday, raising concerns over security in the lead-up to tomorrow’s elections.
The blast in Pishin targeted the election campaign office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar in the Khanozai Tehsil of Pishin district, in PB-47 constituency of Pishin district while the bombing in Qilla Saifullah occurred outside the election office of JUI-F.
The explosion in Pishin claimed the lives of at least 14 people and 10 people people succumbed to the terrorist attack in Qilla Saifullah.
Khanzai Hospital, close to the site of the explosion, gave the death toll as 14 and said more than two dozen were injured. Deputy Commissioner of Pishin district, Jumma Dad Khan, said that the blast had injured many people.
Maulana Abdul Wasay, the JUI-F candidate from Qilla Saifullah, was present inside the party’s electoral office at the time of the explosion.
The attack came as political parties wrapped up their campaigning in the quiet period mandated by electoral rules the day before the election.
Balochistan’s caretaker Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Zubair Khan Jamali took notice of the blast. Expressing regret over the deaths caused by the explosion, the minister sought a report from the deputy commissioner.
Denouncing the attack as an attempt by the “country’s enemies” to create instability, Jamali maintained that the election process would continue.
Security forces cordoned off the areas and emergency services initiated a rescue operation at both attack sites. The injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities.
Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki condemned the attacks and sought a report from the interior minister.
He also expressed deep sorry over the lives lost and instructed concerned officials to arrest the perpetrators of the attacks, said a statement.
Domki maintained that the attacks were a “conspiracy to undermine the process of peaceful elections” and said the elements involved would be brought to justice. The chief minister added that all resources are being utilised to ensure the security of the people.
Urging the people not to be afraid, he asked the citizens of the province to exercise their democratic right on February 8.
Today’s explosions are the latest in a series of attacks targeting electoral offices and candidates in the rest of the province ahead of tomorrow’s general elections.
