On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, two bomb explosions targeted electoral candidates’ offices in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan, leaving 28 people dead and injuring dozens more.
These attacks, occurring in the districts of Pishin, about 30 miles north of Quetta, and Qilla Saifullah, a town near the Afghan border, have significantly increased tensions during Pakistan’s parliamentary elections.
The first blast, resulting in at least 16 fatalities, struck outside the office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan in Pishin District.
Local health facilities, including Khanzai Hospital, reported that over two dozen people were wounded, with several in critical condition.
The second explosion in Qilla Saifullah claimed the lives of at least 12 people at the office of the Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) party, a religious group that has been a frequent target of militant violence.
The attacks were each executed with explosive devices attached to motorcycles parked near the offices, according to local authorities.
Balochistan, a province pivotal for its vast natural gas reserves, is strategically located bordering Afghanistan and Iran. It has been embroiled in conflicts driven by nationalist and separatist groups, as well as Islamist militants, including the Pakistani Taliban.
In response to the attacks, Pakistani authorities have significantly ramped up security measures. Tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces have been mobilized nationwide, focusing on ensuring the safety of polling stations and voters.
Despite the violence, officials remain resolute that the elections are proceeding as scheduled, demonstrating the government’s commitment to maintaining the electoral process.
The incidents highlight a disturbing trend of election-related violence in Pakistan, a country battling to control insurgent activities that frequently target political events.
As the election campaign concluded, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in jail on corruption charges, continued influencing the political landscape, encouraging his supporters to vote and peacefully gather outside polling stations to await results. On January 30, 2023, a Pakistani court sentenced Khan to a decade in prison for disclosing confidential state information. This ruling, the most severe penalty Khan has faced to date, was issued shortly before the nation’s upcoming general election.
According to Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the special tribunal convicted the 71-year-old of revealing details from a classified communication sent by Pakistan’s envoy in Washington to the officials in Islamabad.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who served as the foreign minister, received an identical 10-year sentence for his involvement in the same matter.
Khan’s plea from jail comes amid accusations of military interference in politics, which the military denies.
Prominent election contenders include Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Both have concluded their campaigns with substantial rallies, each appealing to the nation’s youth and critiquing their political adversaries, focusing on the country’s urgent need for leadership capable of navigating through its current crisis.