Pakistan election: 26 killed in blasts near independent candidates’ offices on eve of polls
- The blasts raise concerns as Pakistan goes to the polls amid rising militant attacks and the jailing of former PM Imran Khan
- No group claimed responsibility, but the Islamist militant Pakistani Taliban and separatist groups from Balochistan, have carried out attacks in recent months
Two explosions near electoral candidates’ offices in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan killed 26 people and wounded dozens on Wednesday, officials said, raising concerns over security on the eve of a general election.
Pakistan 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.
Authorities have said they are boosting security at polling booths.
The first attack, which killed 14 people, took place at the office of an independent election candidate in Pishin district.
The second explosion in Qilla Saifullah, 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, according to the province’s information minister.