Pakistan: Terrorist attack on police station before elections, 10 policemen killed; many injured

Attack on a police station in North-West Pakistan just before the national elections. The attack resulted in the tragic death of around 10 police officers, with several others sustaining injuries. The incident is currently under investigation, and no one has taken responsibility for it so far.

The report highlights that violence has increased in various parts of Pakistan in the days leading up to the national elections. It mentions two recent bomb explosions outside the election commission office in the past five days. The most recent incident occurred in the Nushki district of Baluchistan, near the office of the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP). The report states that an emergency meeting has been convened to assess the violent incidents related to the elections, and enhanced security measures have been implemented in several areas.

This portion of the text provides additional details about incidents related to the upcoming elections in Pakistan. Here’s a summary:

1. Karachi Explosive Material Incident:
   • According to Reuters, a shopping bag containing explosive material was found near the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Karachi’s Red Zone area.
   • The explosive material was described as not having ball bearings.
   • In response to this incident, the Election Commission has requested reports from the District Monitoring Officer and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the southern region.
2. Islamabad Parking Lot Timer Bomb Incident:
   • Prior to the Karachi incident, there was an incident in Islamabad where a timer bomb was placed in a bag in the parking lot outside the Election Commission office.
   • Fortunately, during the cleaning process, an employee threw the bag into a garbage pile, preventing any damage.
   • It is noted that if the blast had occurred in the parking lot, significant casualties and damage could have occurred.
3. Increasing Violence Before Elections:
   • The report highlights a rise in violence leading up to the elections, with clashes reported during election campaigning in New Karachi.
   • In another incident, two groups clashed during election campaigning, resulting in the death of a worker.
   • The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced an emergency meeting to assess the violent incidents related to the elections, leading to increased security measures in various regions, including Karachi, Quetta, Sindh, Baluchistan, and other areas.

These incidents underscore the security challenges and tensions surrounding the electoral process in Pakistan.