Blast kills 25 in Pakistan on election day

International Desk: A blast targeting a police van killed more than 25 people in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, a hospital spokesman said, as the South Asian nation goes to the vote to choose a new government.

The blast happened near a polling station, said a witness in Quetta, capital of Pakistan’s province of Baluchistan, but it was unclear if voting had been disrupted.

Television images showed a charred police vehicle, cordoned off by security officials.
24 others were injured in the attack.

The bomb disposal squad has also reached the site of the attack after reports that an unexploded grenade has been discovered.

Rescue sources said the explosion occurred near a police vehicle on routine patrolling.

DIG Abdul Razzak Cheema said the injured have been shifted to Sandeman Provincial Hospital. A state of emergency has been declared at the hospital.

The border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Chaman, Balochistan was closed by the government on Tuesday for two days in the wake of the general election.
Polling across the country for the 11th General Election began at 8am.

Source:  Agencies


risingbd/July 25, 2018/Mukul