Pre-poll violence continued to mar the May 11 election euphoria with multiple attacks on election candidates across the country posing a direct challenge to law enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful environment for polling.
MQM OFFICE ATTACKED:
At least eight people were injured in a blast targeting an electoral office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) near Karachi’s crowded Burns Road area on Thursday night.
Initial reports suggest the political office, set up for election campaigning in the city’s NA-250 constituency, was the target of the suspected terrorists. Several party activists are among the injured.
DIG South Amir Sheikh said that the bomb exploded in ablution room of a nearby mosque. DSP Preedy Police Station Zamir Abbasi said that the blast was carried out through a timed device and around two to three kilogrammes of explosives was used in it.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two years after the death of Osama bin Laden, the Taliban have vowed to follow in the footsteps of the former al Qaeda chief. The statement came on second anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death.
Spokesman of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ehsanullah Ehsan in a video message on Thursday said the outfit would also continue its opposition of the democratic system.
Reiterating their stance of targeting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for having secular views, the TTP spokesman vowed to carry on with the targeted attacks.
KHUZDAR ATTACK:
In Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, militants fired a rocket at the residence of an election candidate of the Balochistan National Party – Mengal (BNP-M).
Police said militants fired a rocket at the residence of Abdul Rauf Mengal in Khuzdar’s Hakeemabad area. Mengal is contesting elections for the National Assembly’s NA-269 seat from Khuzdar.
The blast damaged Mengal’s residence however he was not present at his house at the time of the attack. Police said the rocket attack was followed by intense firing. No casualties were reported in the attack.
In another incident, militants lobbed a hand grenade at Naal Police Station of Khuzdar district. Police said the blast damaged the wall of police station but there was no human loss.
SUKKUR ATTACK:
In Sindh’s Sukkur district, unidentified assailants opened fire at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Jam Ikramullah Dharejo but he remained unhurt in the attack.
According to details, the police said that Dharejo was travelling to a village for his election campaign when armed motorcyclists fired multiple shots at his vehicle near Sukkur.
A man accompanying Dharejo was injured in the firing but his wounds were not serious.
Dharejo, who is the younger brother of Jam Saifullah Dharejo, is contesting elections for Sindh Assembly’s constituency PS-III, Sukkur.
SUICIDE ATTACKER HELD:
Furthermore, the police arrested a would-be suicide bomber during a raid in Shahdadkot in Sindh.
According to details, security personnel raided a hotel in the district where the suspect was hiding. During the search, the police also recovered explosive material and a suicide vest.
SCHOOLS BOMBED:
In Balochistan’s Naseerabad district, two schools designated as polling stations for May 11 general elections were blown up in Chattar village.
Local police said that the government boys primary and middle schools in the area had been proposed for polling stations and were destroyed by improvised explosive devices.