- Achakzai says step taken in ‘response a terror alert’
QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Sunday imposed a ban on public meetings and gatherings in Quetta, citing “severe security threats.”
“The step has been taken in “response to a terror alert”, indicating the presence of a suspected female suicide bomber in Quetta”, Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said in a post social media platform X (erstwhile Twitter).
Achakzai emphasised the necessity of imposing restrictions on public gatherings and electoral meetings, urged all political parties and candidates to conduct their meetings indoors.
While recognizing the importance of the electoral campaign, the Balochistan government underscored that public safety must be prioritized
Balochistan, KP witness sharp rise violence
As the general elections drawing nearer, a concerning surge in violence marked by several acts of terrorism has unfolded in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Prominent political figures have also been issued threats. The law enforcement agencies are grappling with the formidable challenge of upholding peace and stability in the region.
On Thursday, one person was killed and five others injured in three separate attacks in Balochistan.
In the first incident of violence, an individual lost his life and another sustained injuries as a blast occurred on Sabzal Road in Quetta.
According to police, unidentified miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device on the roadside, resulting in a powerful explosion that claimed the life of a person on the spot.
Meanwhile, in two separate incidents of violence in the province, four people sustained injuries in two separate hand-grenade attacks in Jaffarabad and Turbat cities.
The first grenade attack occurred in the Ghulam Nabi Chowk area of Turbat, leaving a person injured whereas the other took place on the national highway in Dera Allah Yar, Jaffarabad district, leaving three people injured.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) while expressing deep concern over the terror attacks sought an immediate report from the Balochistan chief secretary and inspector general.
On the other, the KP Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) revealed that 15 political figures in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have received threats from extremists in connection with the upcoming general elections.
Releasing a list of such individuals, the CTD maintained that threats had been issued to former National Assembly member Mohsin Dawar, ex-provincial minister Imtiaz Qureshi, Senator Hidayatullah, PML-N’s former MNA Amir Muqam, PTI leaders Pir Musawir Shah and Shah Muhammad, JUI-F’s Malik Adnan Wazir and Ehsanullah.
Senators Bakhti Afsar and Maulana Abdur Rasheed are also threatened by extremists.
Meanwhile, sit-in and protest against the killing of National Assembly candidate Rehan Zeb continued in Khar Bazaar, Bajaur.
Zeb was shot dead on Wednesday by unidentified assailants while campaigning in Bajaur district’s Sadiqabad Phattak Bazar.
Similarly, unknown miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at the election office of the PPP on Sariab Road in Quetta, injuring five people. According to police, Ali Madad Jatak, the PPP candidate for the provincial assembly seat in Quetta, was not present at the office at the time of the attack.
