Pakistan blasts on election eve leave 24 dead

On the day of a nationwide election marked by violence and accusations of poll-rigging, two distinct bomb explosions outside the offices of political candidates in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday killed at least 24 people.

Before Thursday's election, over 500,000 security guards were being stationed, and over 90,000 polling places had ballots distributed by the authorities.

In the days leading up to the election, there have been numerous security-related events, resulting in the shooting deaths of at least two candidates and the targeting of scores more across the nation.

“The aim of today’s blasts was to sabotage the election,” said Jan Achakzai, caretaker information minister for Balochistan province, where the blasts happened.

“Despite today’s blasts, the election will take place tomorrow. People of Balochistan will come out tomorrow without any fear.”

Twelve persons were murdered in the first explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) close to an independent candidate's office in the Pishin region, which is around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Quetta and 100 kilometres from the Afghan border.

Police in Quetta and Achakzai said that 25 more persons had injuries.

According to Achakzai, a second IED also murdered 12 people close to the election office of an Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) candidate in the city of Killa Saifullah, which is located roughly 120 kilometres (75 miles) east.

“The incident took place in the main bazaar of the city area, where the election office of the JUI-F was targeted,” a senior police official told AFP.

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