<\/p>\n
At least four people were killed while five were wounded in a bomb blast at a PTI rally in Balochistan\u2019s Sibi on Tuesday, police and health officials said.<\/p>\n
The medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Sibi, Dr Babar, confirmed the injuries and casualties to Dawn.com<\/em>. The incident comes just nine days before the February 8 general elections.<\/p>\n According to Sibi Station House Officer (SHO) Zakaullah Gujjar, the injured persons were being moved to the Civil Hospital. He said the condition of most of them was critical and expressed fears that the death toll could rise.<\/p>\n Gujjar said security forces reached the blast site immediately after the incident was reported and cordoned off the area. \u201cA bomb disposal squad is collecting evidence from the crime scene,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Separately, the PTI said the blast occurred at an election rally organised by party-backed candidate Saddam Tareen, who is contesting the upcoming polls from the NA-253 (Ziarat) constituency.<\/p>\n It said three PTI workers were killed and seven were injured in the incident while Tareen remained unhurt.<\/p>\n \u201cWe strongly condemn this heartbreaking incident and demand that attention should be given to suppressing terrorists instead of PTI workers,\u201d the party said in a post on social media platform X.<\/p>\n In another statement, the PTI termed the incident a \u201ccriminal failure\u201d of the provincial and federal governments.<\/p>\n \u201cA full investigation of the incident should be conducted and the criminal negligence of the supervising governments should also be investigated to bring those responsible to justice,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n The party also questioned why security was not provided to the rally despite a high alert.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Balochistan Health Secretary Abdullah Khan Noorzai had imposed an emergency at hospitals across Quetta and Sibi, according to a statement issued by the provincial health department.<\/p>\n \u201cInstructions have been issued to Sibi\u2019s medical superintendent to provide the best healthcare facilities to patients. All doctors and staff are instructed to be present on duty immediately,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n It added that instructions were issued to increase the security of hospitals to tackle any untoward situation, gather medicines, medical equipment, lab necessities, and ample stock of blood.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the Election Commission of Pakistan said it had taken notice of the incident and summoned a report from Balochistan\u2019s chief secretary and police chief.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Interim Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said: \u201cRegardless of the actions of terrorists, the elections will proceed as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe rally in Sibi, which was targeted by terrorists, will not discourage the government of Balochistan from conducting the elections,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n The caretaker minister said it was \u201cevident\u201d that terrorists aimed to disrupt the election process and its results.<\/p>\n \u201cThe resilient people of Balochistan, by the grace of God, will ensure that at least 50 per cent of the population actively participates in the voting process on February 8.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the three families affected by the tragic blast in Sibi,\u201d Achakzai added.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s incident comes as Pakistan has recently witnessed an uptick in terror activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.<\/p>\n A day earlier, seven militants were killed<\/a> after security forces thwarted three terror attacks in Mach. According to Achakzai, a clearance operation is underway in the area.<\/p>\n On Sunday, two people were injured<\/a> in an explosion outside the residence of a PTI-backed candidate. Malik Shah Muhammad Khan remained safe in the attack.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, former MNA Mohsin Dawar survived an armed attack<\/a> on his convoy in the Tapi area of Miramshah tehsil in KP\u2019s North Waziristan. The attack on Dawar\u2019s convoy occurred during an election rally. The assailants opened fire and subsequently fled.<\/p>\n The same day, JUI-F\u2019s Qari Khairullah also narrowly escaped a roadside bomb in Bajaur.<\/p>\n Last week, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar constituted<\/a> a high-level committee to oversee security for the upcoming general elections.<\/p>\n Under the terms of reference (ToRs), the committee will be responsible for overseeing security arrangements for general elections. It will also review and resolve matters regarding administrative arrangements and coordination for smooth conduct of general elections.<\/p>\nECP takes notice, summons report<\/h2>\n
Uptick in terror incidents<\/h2>\n