HT Digital,
Balochistan, Jan 2: On February 2nd, 2024, a series of bomb and grenade attacks struck various areas in Balochistan, Pakistan, just days before the scheduled general elections on February 8th. These attacks have been reported to have resulted in the tragic death of one individual and injuries to several others, including a police officer and a jail warden.
The intensity of one particular blast, which occurred along a footpath on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) road in the Spinny area of Quetta, was so severe that it caused the death of an 84-year-old passerby named Abdul Khaliq Shah. The explosive device used in this attack was estimated to contain around 8 kilograms of explosives. Despite the lack of any election campaign events in the vicinity, the target of the bombing remains unknown. Security had already been heightened due to the upcoming elections.
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In addition to this incident, there were reports of an explosion near the Pakistan Election Commission office in Karachi, signaling a heightened threat level as the country prepares for its parliamentary elections. The attacks did not spare government buildings either; offices of deputy commissioners in Dhadar and Panjgur were targeted with hand grenades, and the central prison in Mastung was attacked, causing damage to the infrastructure.
Political party offices were also not immune to the violence. The offices of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), and Jamiat-e-Islami-Faizal (JUI-F) were targeted with grenades, although no fatalities were reported from these specific incidents.
In response to the escalating violence, the Balochistan government has significantly tightened security measures across all cities and towns within the province. The Pakistan Election Commission has taken notice of these attacks and has requested detailed reports from the Balochistan inspector general of police and chief secretary.
These attacks have cast a shadow over the electoral process in Pakistan, raising concerns about the safety of voters and the integrity of the democratic process as the nation approaches a critical juncture in its political landscape.
