QUETTA - Four persons were killed while several others sustained injuries in a bomb blast at a rally of organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday in Sibi district of Balochistan.
Local police said the explosion, the nature of which is yet to be determined, occurred at the city’s Jinnah Road. The deadly explosion comes just eight days before the February 8 general elections, with security heightened across the country and law enforcers deployed to ensure the law and order situation. Sibi Deputy Commissioner Khuda-e-Rahim confirmed that the blast took place when the PTI rally was passing through the city road. PTI Balochistan’s spokesperson Nazeer Achakzai also confirmed the death of four party workers in the blast that targeted the rally being held by one of its candidates. Abdullah Khan, Secretary of the Health Department in Balochistan, declared a state of emergency in all hospitals, including those in Sibi and Quetta, in response to the blast. Hospitals are now on high alert, and medical personnel are working tirelessly to provide immediate care to the injured.
In response to the incident, the spokesperson of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a statement, expressing concern over the explosion during a political rally in Sibi.
The ECP has urged an immediate report from the Chief Secretary and Inspector General (IG) of Balochistan to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Reacting to the incident, caretaker Balochistan Minister for Information Jan Achakzai expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Achakzai acknowledged the terrorist intent to disrupt the election process and manipulate its outcomes. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in the resilience of the people of Balochistan, stating, “Regardless of the actions of terrorists, the rally in Sibi, which was targeted by terrorists, will not discourage the Government of Balochistan from conducting the elections.”
