PM Mulk orders to ensure safety of election candidates, public

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  • Prime minister, Balochistan CM, senate chairman, Imran, Shehbaz visit residence of Raisani family to condole Siraj’s death
  • Police beef up security as ten more check posts set up in Peshawar 

QUETTA: Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk on Sunday condemned the attack on election rally in Mastung and directed the authorities to take all possible measures to ensure the security of election candidates and public, as the top political leadership of the country visited Quetta to condole the death of Siraj Raisani with his family.

PM Mulk chaired a high-level meeting of civil and military officials to review the law and order situation in Balochistan in wake of the attack. Balochistan Chief Secretary Dr Akhtar Nazir shared details of the Mastung suicide attack, besides the arrangements being made for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the July 25 general elections in the province, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The prime minister strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan and said that utmost precaution should be exercised and all possible measures should be taken to ensure the security of the candidates and the public participating in political rallies and corner meetings.

He also stressed the need to take the political leadership on board regarding the security arrangements and to secure their cooperation in order to avoid any untoward incident.

PM Mulk instructed officials to immediately launch a public awareness campaign in coordination with all stakeholders to sensitise the general public about the need to strictly adhere to security standard operating procedures.

Speaking at the meeting, the prime minister appreciated the efforts of the armed forces and civil administration for timely evacuation of the injured of the Mastung tragedy and saving lives.

Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Caretaker Chief Minister Allauddin Marri and Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa were also present on the occasion besides other civil and military officials.

Before chairing the meeting, Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk visited the family of Shaheed Siraj Raisani to offer condolences over his death. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Balochistan Chief Minister Alauddin Marri accompanied him during the visit.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan visited Mastung blast victims on Sunday afternoon before meeting members of the Raisani family to offer his condolences.

Speaking to the media after meeting the Raisani family, Imran said that he was sorry for BAP’s great loss. “From what I have read about him, Raisani seemed to be a patriotic citizen. The PTI is sorry for the loss of such an individual,” he added.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also visited the Raisani family and said that steps should be taken to ensure swift justice for Siraj Raisani’s death. “A commission should be made to investigate this case from all angles,” he said.

Shehbaz also posted about his arrival on social media and tweeted: “Just visited Sarawan house Quetta to condole and pray with bereaved families of Mastung tragedy. Also met Raisani family who lost Siraj Raisani saab. He was scheduled to contest election from Mastung. A very heart-rending incident.”

Later, he visited the injured of Mastung at CMH Quetta and prayed for their early recovery.

 

In a recent wave of terrorism, election candidates have come under attack in KP and Balochistan.

On July 10, Awami National Party (ANP) candidate from PK-78 Peshawar, Haroon Bilour, and 21 others were killed in an attack targeting the party’s election meeting in Yakatoot area of the city.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which had also claimed responsibility of the killing of his father Bashir Bilour in 2012, claimed responsibility of the attack again.

On July 13, the convoy of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) candidate from NA-35 Bannu came under attack. While former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, who had also been named in NACTA list, remained safe in the attack, four of his supporters lost their lives.

Later in the afternoon, a powerful bomb blast targeted a meeting of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) candidate from PB-35 Mastung, Nawabzada Siraj Raisani. Raisani and at least 128 others were killed in the attack, while over 200 were injured.

The Mastung attack was the deadliest terror attack in the country since the attack on Army Public School Peshawar in 2014 stunned the nation.

Other attacks on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and PTI election campaigns in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have injured several others since the beginning of this month.

The country is observing a day of national mourning on Sunday to express solidarity with the victim families of the recent terror attacks in Peshawar, Bannu and Mastung.

The interim premier had announced one-day official mourning to mourn the deaths of over 130 people killed in the blasts targeting election-related activities in KP and Balochistan.

The Balochistan Government has also announced to observe three-day mourning in the province in the wake of tragic Mastung incident.

On the other hand, ten more check posts have been established in different parts of Peshawar in a bid to beef up the security ahead of the general elections on July 25.

Police are on high alert and fully prepared to tackle all kinds of situations, CCPO Qazi Jamil said on Sunday while briefing the media after a flag march, organised to show preparedness of the police force. The strength of the quick response units has been increased and put on red alert, he added.

“We have established new check posts due to security threats and concerns and its aim is to prevent any terrorist attack. It is the duty of the general public to cooperate with the police force like they did in the past years,” said Jamil.

 

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