- At least 22 people feared killed in two attacks on candidates’ political offices in Balochistan province.
- Pakistan gears up to hold closely watched elections for national and provincial assemblies on Thursday.
- A major crackdown on the biggest opposition party and its leader, former PM Imran Khan, has fuelled concerns that the polls will not be free and fair.
- Voters will cast their ballots for two legislators to represent their constituency – one federally and the other provincially.
- There are 5,121 candidates contesting for the federal legislature and 12,695 for the provinces.
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When are the elections?
A reminder that Pakistan elections for the national and provincial assemblies will be taking place tomorrow, February 8.
Polls will open at 8am (05:00 GMT) and scheduled to close at 5pm (12:00 GMT).
Polling may be extended in some areas as permitted by the election commission.
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First blast caused by IED attached to motorcycle: Minister
The bomb blast in Pishin was the result of an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a motorcycle, Balochistan’s caretaker information minister, Jan Achakzai, told ARY News.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed at least 12 people and wounded many others.
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A second blast reported in Balochistan province
We’re getting reports of a second blast targeting a candidate’s office in Balochistan province.
Jan Achakzai, caretaker information minister for the province, told broadcaster ARY News that at least 10 people have been killed in this blast reported to have taken place in Qila Saifullah.
Earlier today, a blast in the Pishin district killed at least 12 people.
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Blast in Balochistan: What we know so far
The bomb blast in Balochistan comes less than 24 hours before Pakistan goes to the polls to elect the national assembly as well as the four provincial assemblies.
Here is what we know so far about the attack:
- The blast took place in the Khanozai area of the Pishin district, near the office of an independent election candidate.
- At least 12 people have been killed and multiple people injured.
- Some of the wounded are said to be in serious condition.
- No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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What explains the dramatic rise in armed attacks in Pakistan?
As we’ve been reporting, at least 12 people have been killed in a blast at an independent candidate’s office in Balochistan province.
The bombing came despite the deployment of tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces across Pakistan to ensure peace following a recent surge in attacks in the country.
Attacks on security forces have also increased.
Here is a piece that looks at the dramatic rise in armed attacks in Pakistan.
Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/7/pakistan-election-2024-one-day-out-live