At least 24 killed as twin bombings rock Balochistan | The Express Tribune

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.

Condemnations

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that all efforts to sabotage tomorrow’s elections will be defeated.

Kakar expressed grief on the loss of lives in the explosions in Pishin and Qilla Saifullah, and ordered for the injured to be provided all medical assistance.

He said the government is resolute in ensuring the electoral process is concluded peacefully.

Interim Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz strongly condemned the twin attacks in Balochistan and said he shared the grief of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. 

“Inciteful elements want to create chaos before the general elections and stop the public from exercising their right to vote,” said the minister in a post on X.

He maintained that the government would not “let the evil intentions of the enemy succeed at any cost”.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the terrorist attacks in Pishin and Qilla Saifullah and added that those responsible would be brought to justice. 

“Targeting innocent people is a barbaric act,” said Bilawal as he offered condolences to the families of the deceased. 

PML-N President and former premier Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the lives lost in the twin bombings and said these “cowardly terrorist attacks a few hours before the elections cannot dampen our spirits”. 

He also prayed for the deceased and the affected families. 

Bloody electoral trail

A day earlier, two separate blasts rocked the Kech and Panjgur districts of Balochistan.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties but the explosions prompted apprehensions about security, as the country approached the February 8 elections.

Unidentified assailants lobbed a grenade at the office of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in the Hoshop area of Kech district, levies sources told The Express Tribune.

In another incident in the Surdu area of Panjgur, the residence of National Party (NP) leader Abdul Qadeer Sajdi was targeted. Reports indicate that the explosion coincided with a crucial meeting concerning the general elections, adding a political dimension to the incident.

On February 3, at least four low-scale explosions rocked Quetta, Noshki, Dera Bugti, and Panjgur districts of Balochistan as election offices of various political parties and candidates were targeted by unidentified terrorists.

In Quetta, at least two people were injured in a blast in the Eastern Bypass area of the city. Police sources said unidentified miscreants targeted the election office of Mazloom Ulasi Tehreek. The candidate was not present at the office at the time of the blast.

The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital Quetta for medical attention.

Similarly, in Panjgur, unidentified miscreants attacked the residence of Rehmat Baloch, the former Balochistan health minister and a candidate for the provincial assembly seat on the ticket of the National Party (NP). The NP in a condemnation statement expressed serious concern over the security situation and demanded of the Balochistan government to ensure the security of its candidates across the province.

Separately, a bomb went off outside an election campaign office in the Noshki district of Balochistan. No casualties were reported.

In Dera Bugti district, a powerful landmine explosion rocked the Pat Feeder area, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous cattle. According to Levies officials, no human casualties were reported.

Additional input by Reuters