Pakistan: 128 killed in Mastung suicide bombing
Islamabad, July 14 (IBNS): The death toll in a sucide bombing by Islamic militants in an election rally in sothwestern Pakistan has risen to 128 as the victims included Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, a candidate for Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) a provincial assembly seat.
The suicide bombing, which is considered the deadliest since 2014 school massacre, has been claimed by both the so called Islamic State and Tehreek-e-Taliban, rocked Mastung town in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Friday with the attack third in a week that is election related.
The region has strong presence of Islamist militants affiliated to the Taliban, al Qaeda and Islamic State while the province is also roiled by a freedom movement of the ethnic Baloch people. .
The blast targeted a rally in Mastung area, around 60km south-west of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
The deceased leader was younger brother of former chief minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani.
Confirming Raisani's death, a family member told local Dawn News that the former was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds, while on his way to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Quetta.
Apart from the dead, over 150 people were wounded.
"Around 128 people have been killed and 150 injured in the suicide attack,” Dawn News quoted caretaker Home Minister of Balochistan, Agha Umar Bangulzai, as saying.
The attack has been claimed by Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan’s ‘Ghazi force Lal Masjid’ wing in a Whatsapp massage, the local outlet said.
According to Pakistan's Director General of Civil Defence Aslam Tareen, around 8 kg explosives, ball baring and nails were used in the suicide jacket.
Bannu attack
In another attack, at least four people were killed and 31 injured in an explosion near an election rally of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) in Haved area in northwest Pakistan's Bannu district on Friday.
The blast took place around 50 meters away from the venue of the public meeting.
Earlier reports had stated that the explosion targetted the convoy of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl’s Akram Khan Durrani, who is contesting on an MMA ticket from NA-35 (Bannu).
Geo News quoted officials as saying that the blast occurred 50 metres away from the rally site, adding that 40 policemen were deployed at the venue.
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