Quetta: A suicide bomb blast outside Tameer-e-Nau School Polling station on Eastern bypass area of Quetta killed 31 people and injured more than 30 on Election Day.
According to the sources, around 11 AM a suicide bomber collided his Motorcycle with a Police Van which was parked near the polling station. Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) confirmed the suicide blast and added that 6 to 8 kilograms of explosive were used in the blast reinforced with ball bearings.
Sources claimed that target of the suicide blast was the convoy of DIG Quetta Police, Abdul Razzak Cheema. However, this could not be confirmed by official sources. 31 people were killed and more than 32 were injured due to the suicide bombing, DIG CTD Aitzaz Goraya told media.
Majority of the victims of the blast were the workers of different political parties who were sitting in their camps outside the polling stations. Polling was suspended in Tameer-e-Nau polling station for two hours before it was resumed after beefing up the security.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Allauddin Marri, condemned the suicide attack and termed it as an attempt to sabotage the elections.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the candidate of MMA from NA266, where the blast took place, claimed that He was on the inspection visit of the Tameer-e-Nau polling station and narrowly escaped the blast.
Agha Hassan Baloch, the candidate of BNP-Mengal from NA266 told Balochistan Voices that voter Turnout dropped significantly in the constituency after the bomb blast.
Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the suicide blast through its Amaq news service.
Elections in Balochistan
Polling was held on 50 seats of provincial and 16 seats of National Assembly in Balochistan.
According to the partial unofficial results available at the time of filing of this report, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), BNP-Mengal and MMA were leading from different constituencies of the province.
Reports coming from several districts of Balochistan confirm that process of voting was very slow which could reduce the voter turnout in the province.
BNP-Mengal alleged rigging in PB-48 and NA-271. In letters written by the party to Election Commission of Pakistan, BNP-Mengal alleged that Presiding Officers were favoring the candidate of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). Nawab Jangez Marri, BAP candidate for PB9 Kohlu alleged that his supporters were not allowed to enter Kohlu district to cast their votes.
Outside of Quetta, polling was largely peaceful in Balochistan. In Panjgur, reportedly rockets were fired near the BNP-Awami election camp which wounded one person. There were also reports of rocket attacks in Buleda area of Kech district, which could not be confirmed officially. A minor scuffle between the supporters of candidates was reported from Naseerabad and Duki district.
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