PISHIN (Balochistan): Eighteen people died while thirty got critically injured when a bomb (planted on a motorcycle) exploded outside the election campaign camp of an independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar (contesting from NA-265 constituency and Balochistan Assembly constituencies PB-47 and PB-48) at Khanozai area here on Wednesday (7th Feb, 2024).

While bodies and injured have been transferred to District Hospital Khanozai, emergency has been declared at medical facilities in Quetta (including Trauma Centre, Civil Hospital, BMC, Benazir, Sheikh Zayed Hospital) and staff has been called.

Asfandyar Khan Kakar (who was in Bashore at the time of explosion), while talking to Media confirmed death of his workers and informed that the blast took place when the names of the polling agents were being finalized in the election office.
Provincial Caretaker Minister for Information and PR Jan Achakzai taking to the X (Twitter) stated: “Allow me to reiterate our unwavering commitment to relentlessly pursue terrorists until every last one of them is eliminated.
“In light of the tragic Pishin blast, which claimed the lives of 12 individuals and left 24 others injured, and Qilla Saifullah blast, which killed 10 people, it is important to emphasize that the scheduled elections will proceed as planned.
“Rest assured, we will not allow terrorists to undermine or sabotage this crucial democratic process.”
Diplomatic Mission in Islamabad stated: ““Iran condemns the terrorist attack in Balochistan in the strongest terms. Innocent civilians were martyred and injured in this terrorist attack.”

British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott, Tweeted: “As Pakistan prepares to head to the polls tomorrow, I am appalled by today’s terrorist attacks and condemn those seeking to prevent people from voting.”
Besides the Pishin and Qilla Abdullah blasts, four other attacks were carried out including one targeting JUI-F’s Hafiz Hamdullah’s convoy between Qila Abdullah and Mazaiadha area in the evening.
Amnesty International stated that it was deeply alarmed by the lethal and targeted violence on offices, residences and election convoys of election candidates and political parties, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The two deadly attacks in Balochistan outside election offices today (7th Feb, 2024), leaving at least 24 dead, follow dozens of attacks in the last 30 days, including on 10 and 31 January 2024 resulting in the death of 2 candidates…
“As Pakistan prepares for its General Election to be held tomorrow (8 February 2024),Amnesty is concerned about the pre-election violence, selective bans on protests and gatherings; harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of party workers and candidates; media restrictions; internet and social media disruptions; and trials of political opponents with little due process…
“Amnesty International urges the caretaker government to ensure compliance with its human rights obligations during and after the elections by: ensuring uninterrupted access to the internet; ending media restrictions; …
“lifting all restrictions on assembly and protest; providing access to a fair trial and due process rights to all political opponents under Pakistan’s international human rights obligations; and conducting investigations into the targeted attacks on political workers and candidates, holding suspected perpetrators to account through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.“
Newspakistan.tv