IS claims responsibility
Attacks with dozens of deaths around election in Pakistan
February 8, 2024, 2:56 p.m
On the day of the parliamentary election there was violence against police officers: five security guards were killed on patrol. The terrorist organization IS is also carrying out attacks in the run-up to the election.
Five members of the security forces were killed in Pakistan on the day of the parliamentary election. The security forces were attacked while they were on patrol in the northwest, police said. Four police officers and a representative of the border force were killed in the attack in Kulachi in Dera Ismail Khan district and three other police officers were injured, a senior police official in the region said.
Elections to parliament and four provincial assemblies were held in Pakistan. Around 128 million eligible voters were called to cast their votes in the Asian nuclear power, which is plagued by an economic crisis. In total, almost 18,000 candidates stood for the elections at more than 90,000 polling stations. Pollsters assumed low participation. More than 650,000 army personnel, paramilitary forces and police were expected to ensure security during the election, which was marred by violence.
Attacks left 26 dead
At least 26 people lost their lives in two explosions on Wednesday. The extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks. According to local authorities, numerous other people were injured. The explosions occurred in the southwestern province of Balochistan near the offices of candidates running in the election.
The first attack killed 14 people and injured more than two dozen people, according to the nearby Khanzai Hospital. According to authorities, twelve people were killed in the second explosion near the border with Afghanistan. 25 people were injured.
There have been numerous attacks in recent months, including by the radical Islamic Taliban branch in Pakistan and separatist groups from the resource-rich Balochistan province that are fighting against the Pakistani state.