Pakistan: 4 Killed In Bomb Blast Near Rally Of Imran Khan's PTI In Quetta

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> At least four people were killed Tuesday in a bombing near a political rally by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta, officials said. The incident occurred as the nation gears up for upcoming elections. A bomb planted on a motorbike detonated as supporters rallied for the jailed ex-prime minister <a title="Imran Khan" href="https://ift.tt/FQztpke" data-type="interlinkingkeywords">Imran Khan's party</a>, AFP quoted police as informing.</p> <p>Senior police official Farhan Zahid revealed, "The PTI rally was passing by there but it is not clear whether the rally was a target or not," as quoted by AFP.</p> <p>Waseem Baig, a provincial health department spokesman mentioned, "Six people were wounded in addition to the four killed".</p> <p>In a statement, the PTI party stated that three of its activists were among the dead at the rally -- a convoy of motorbikes and cars parading through the city to curry support for a candidate ahead of national elections scheduled for February 8. A party spokesman told AFP, "It was too soon to say whether they had been deliberately targeted".</p> <p>Meanwhile, Pakistan's electoral commission said it was investigating the incident.&nbsp;</p> <p>The attack came just hours after PTI founder Khan was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of having leaked classified state documents.</p> <p>The 71-year-old former cricket star was ousted from office in 2022 and launched a campaign of defiance against Pakistan's military kingmakers, who he said conspired to end his premiership.</p> <p>&nbsp;"They are suffering under an unprecedented crackdown designed to prevent their return to power through the February 8 poll", "Khan and PTI said, as per AFP.</p> <p>Pakistan has also been suffering from a security crisis, with a dramatic uptick in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, as per an AFP report.</p> <p>Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces, and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.</p> <p><strong>Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram:</strong><a href="https://ift.tt/4ftuSXw"> <strong>https://ift.tt/18tRph9>

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