Islamabad: A day ahead of the general elections in Pakistan, two blasts took place on February 7 near electoral candidates’ offices in Balochistan, Reuters reported quoting local officials. As per the report, the blasts killed more than 22 people, raising concerns over security in the lead-up to Thursday’s polls.
The country goes to the polls amid rising militant attacks in recent months and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country. The explosions occurred despite tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel stationed around Pakistan to maintain order in the wake of a recent spike in militant strikes, particularly in Balochistan.
As per reports, the first blast happened at the Pishin district office of an independent candidate which left 12 people dead. According to the province’s information minister, the second explosion in Qilla Saifullah, a town near the Afghan border, detonated near an office of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), a religious party that has previously been the target of militant attacks.
