Explosion at Imran Khan’s Party Rally in Southwest Pakistan Leaves 4 Dead, 5 Injured
Published on: February 2, 2024.
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At least four people lost their lives and five others were injured in a tragic explosion during a political rally in Balochistan, Pakistan. The rally was organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, and the blast occurred on Jinnah Road in Sibi city. The District Headquarters Hospital in Sibi confirmed the casualties and the injured were immediately transferred to the civil hospital for treatment.
This incident highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism in Pakistan, particularly in the restive province of Balochistan. Following the explosion, police immediately arrived at the scene and launched a search operation to apprehend the perpetrators. The PTI party released a statement condemning the attack, stating that it occurred during an election rally for their candidate Saddam Tareen. They demanded that the focus should be on combating terrorists rather than targeting PTI party workers.
The PTI party also criticized the provincial and federal governments, terming the incident a “criminal failure” on their part. They called for a thorough investigation to bring the responsible individuals to justice. As a result of the blast, an emergency was declared in all hospitals in Quetta and Sibi, with instructions to provide the best healthcare services to the victims.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) expressed concern over the incident and requested a detailed report from the chief secretary and police chief of Balochistan. Despite the attack, Interim Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai emphasized that the elections would proceed as planned and the government of Balochistan remains committed to ensuring a safe and secure electoral process.
This blast occurred shortly after security forces successfully foiled coordinated attacks on a high-security jail, resulting in the deaths of five terrorists. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) annual security report has identified Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as the main centers of violence in Pakistan.
With the national elections scheduled for February 8, the government has made the decision to deploy the army to enhance security measures during the electoral process.
Source: [Khaleej Times](https://www.khaleejtimes.com)
