Balochistan rocked by blasts ahead of elections, 25 killed

Election offices of two candidates targeted in Qila Saifullah and Pishin, say police.

QUETTA: A day ahead of the February 8 general elections in the country, two bomb blasts ripped through election offices of two candidates in separate cities of Balochistan killing at least 25 people and injuring scores of others.

Police said that the first blast occured outside the election office of an independent candidate in the Khanzai area of Pishin in which 15 people were killed and many others injured. The candidate, Asfandyar Kakar, was not present in the office when the bomb planted in a bike went off.

The second bomb blast targeted the election office of a JUI candidate for NA-251 Molana Abdul Wasi, leaving 10 people dead and scores of others injured.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad ordered the police in the areas to arrest the culprits abd ensure peace in other areas to hold the elections in a free and transparent manner.

Attacks on security forces, police and election candidates in Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa have increased ahead of the general elections. These attacks have created a sense of insecurity among the voters.

A few days ago, a candidate affiliated with the PTI was shot dead by unknown people in Bajaur while many people were injured in a bomb attack on a rally of the PTI in Balochistan.

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