QUETTA: At least 28 people were killed and over 40 others injured in two separate blasts targeting election candidates in Balochistan on Wednesday, just a day before general elections in Pakistan.
The first attack claimed at least 15 lives, over 30 were injured after an explosion took place outside the Balochistan Independent candidate’s office in Pishin, while the second blast took place outside the office of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) in Balochistan. Killa Saifullah District.
The Pishin blast took place outside the political office of independent candidate Asfand Yar Khan Kakar in Khanozai area.
Kakar is contesting from NA-265 constituency and Balochistan Assembly constituencies — PB-47 and PB-48 in the February 8 elections.
The injured people were taken to the Khanozai Tehsil Hospital while the bodies were also taken, the hospital’s MS Dr Habib.
Dr Habib said most of the injured were in a critical condition.
After the blast, an emergency was declared in hospitals in Quetta for which additional personnel were also called in, the provincial health minister told Geo News.
He added that staffed operating theaters are ready to treat the injured at the Trauma Centre, Civil Hospital, BMC, Benazir and Sheikh Zayed Hospital.
The independent candidate was not present in his office when the explosion occurred at PP-47 in Pishin.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took cognizance of the blast and summoned a report from the Chief Secretary Balochistan and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
An ECP spokesperson said that directives have been issued to take action against those involved in such incidents.
Kakar said the blast took place on a motorcycle outside his election office.
“Eight of our workers were martyred and more than 18 were injured in the explosion when the names of election agents were being finalized at the election office,” he said.
Kakar himself was in Barshore when the explosion occurred and is currently reaching Khanozai.
Blast in Killa Saifullah
The second blast targeted the JUI-F office in Killa Saifullah district.
The second blast killed at least 13 people and injured 17 others, Balochistan’s Information Minister Achakzai said.
He said JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Wassay, who is contesting the election from PB-3, was unhurt in the attack.
Achakzai said that the terrorists will not succeed in their objectives and added that the war will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.
People of Balochistan will destroy the ambitions of terrorists: Jan Achakzai
Meanwhile, Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said that according to preliminary information, the explosive material was placed in a motorcycle.
