Islamabad: Just a day before Pakistan’s general elections, Balochistan witnessed two devastating blasts near electoral candidates’ offices, as reported by Reuters quoting local officials. The explosions resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives and left several others injured, raising concerns over security ahead of Thursday’s polls.
Despite the presence of tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across Pakistan to maintain order amidst a surge in militant strikes, particularly in Balochistan, the blasts underscored the persistent threat of violence.
“A blast took place in the office of the candidate of Nokandi area of Pishin district, killing eight people”, stated Pishin Deputy Commissioner Jumma Dad Khan, as quoted by Reuters.
The first explosion occurred at the Pishin district office of an independent candidate, claiming 12 lives. Additionally, the second blast in Qilla Saifullah, near the Afghan border, targeted an office of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), a religious party that has previously been the target of militant attacks.
Pakistan, with a population of nearly 250 million, is gearing up to vote for a national government and members of the National Assembly. A total of 44 political parties are competing for the 266 seats in the national assembly, with an additional 70 seats reserved for women and minorities.
