Washington: The United States has strongly condemned the attacks on political candidates and their supporters in Pakistan, describing them as “cowardly attempts” to deprive the Pakistani people of their democratic rights.
At least 133 people, including Balochistan Awami Party leader Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, were killed and over 200 others injured on Friday in a powerful suicide blast and a targeted attack on separate election rallies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Friday’s violence was the deadliest in a series of assaults on political candidates ahead of the July 25 polls.
“These attacks are cowardly attempts to deprive the Pakistani people of their democratic rights,” State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
“We grieve with those mourning the victims, and hope for a rapid recovery of those injured. We will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan and the broader South Asia region in their fight against terrorism,” she said.
The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Mastung area in the troubled Balochistan province that left 128 people dead, police officials said.
The outfit announced the claim through its Aamaq news agency without providing further details.
The attack came hours after a bomb hit a rally of Akram Khan Durrani of Mutahida Majlis Amal (MMA), an alliance of religious party, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami, in Bannu area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Five persons were killed and over 37 other injured, police said.
Durrani was unhurt in the attack. He later visited the injured in a hospital in Bannu and said that his vehicle was damaged in the attack. Durrani, who is contesting in July 25 elections against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, announced that he will continue campaign despite threats. No group has claimed responsibility for the two attacks so far.
The twin attacks came as former prime minister Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam returned to the country to face arrest in a corruption case.
The law and order had suddenly deteriorated ahead of elections despite claims by the government and security forces that terrorism has been wiped out of the country.