On the eve of national elections, at least 20 people died in two bomb explosions in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, according to officials.
The first explosion happened in front of the Pishin district party headquarters of an independent candidate, killing twelve people.
About 150 kilometers (93 miles) distant, in the Qillah Saif Ullah district, there was another explosion that claimed eight lives. The two explosions harmed numerous more people.
Poll-rigging allegations and acts of violence have clouded the election.
As of yet, no organization has taken credit for the Pishin attack. The second blast’s specifics are still being revealed.
Pictures from social media depict vehicles and motorcycles that were destroyed by the explosion in Pishin. It happened in front of the local independent candidate’s election office; officials informed the BBC that the candidate was meeting with his polling agent at the time.
There have been violent occurrences in both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in the previous week or two in the build-up to Thursday’s vote.
The injured have been sent to local hospitals while police investigate what caused the explosion.
The election will go ahead as scheduled, according to the Balochistani authorities.
Provincial Information Minister Jan Achakzai wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “This important democratic process will not be compromised or sabotaged by terrorists.”
