133 killed in Pak suicide blasts
Military warns of terror attacks in runup to election, to deploy 371,000 soldiers on polling day
ISLAMABAD: At least 133 people, including a political leader, were killed and nearly 300 more injured in two separate bombings targeting political rallies in Pakistan on Friday, raising security fears ahead of the general elections on July 25.
A suicide bomber detonated in the middle of a gathering of the Balochistan Awami Party in Mastung town, close to the provincial capital of Quetta, killing 128 people, including party leader Siraj Raisani, and wounding 270 more.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack in Mastung came hours after five people were killed and 39 injured when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle went off near a rally by Muttahida Majlis-e-amal (MMA) candidate Akram Khan Durrani at Bannu in northwestern Khyber-paktunkhwa province.
ISLAMABAD: At least 133 people, including a political leader, were killed and nearly 300 more injured in two separate bombings targeting political rallies in Pakistan on Friday, raising security fears ahead of the general elections on July 25.
A suicide bomber detonated in the middle of a gathering of the Balochistan Awami Party in Mastung town, close to the provincial capital of Quetta, killing 128 people, including party leader Siraj Raisani, and wounding some 270 more.
The meeting was organised by Raisani, a candidate in elections to the Balochistan assembly and the younger brother of former chief minister Aslam Raisani. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Quetta.
Provincial home minister Agha Umar Bungalzai told the media the death toll “has risen to 128”. Officials said about 20 kilograms of explosives and ball bearings were used in the attack.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq agency, saying it was carried out by a Pakistani militant.
Siraj Raisani had been chief of the secular Balochistan Muttahida Mahaz (BMM), formed by Ghous Bakhsh Raisani in the 1970s, till June.
The attack in Mastung came hours after five people were killed and 39 more injured when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle went off near a rally by Muttahida Majlis-e-amal (MMA) candidate Akram Khan Durrani at Bannu in northwestern Khyberpaktunkhwa province.
Durrani survived the attack, police said, and no group claimed responsibility. Durrani, a former chief minister who is contesting against Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaaf chief Imran Khan, said he would continue his campaign.
Durrani said this was the second attack targeting him. “We are intimated that there are threats but we remain unaware about the forces that have threatened us. There were media reports that I am unsafe, I would like to ask media if they know about the threats, then please reveal the identity of those behind the threats,” he said.
Condemning the attack on Durrani, caretaker interior minister Azam Khan said the interim government will not allow the polls to be sabotaged. “Extremist elements are trying to disrupt the election process. We will not be deterred by militants,” he said.
On Tuesday, a suicide bombing claimed by the Pakistani Taliban targeted a rally by the Awami National Party in Peshawar city. ANP leader Haroon Bilour was among the 22 killed.