An explosion rocked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Balochistan’s Nushki District, adding to the rising tension ahead of the upcoming February 8 polls. Although there have been no reported casualties, the detonation of an explosive device at the ECP office’s gate has sparked an ongoing investigation. Police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in an attempt to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
This incident comes in the wake of a similar explosion outside the Karachi ECP office last week, where explosive material was discovered in a shopping bag near the office wall. Notably, the explosive substance lacked ball bearings, signaling a potentially deliberate pattern of attacks on electoral offices.
In the midst of the pre-election period, Balochistan and Karachi have experienced widespread violence in the form of hand grenade attacks and explosions targeting political entities and election-related offices. These attacks have resulted in injuries, including those sustained by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers in various grenade attacks across Balochistan.
With the general elections scheduled for February 8, growing concerns over the escalating violence and security challenges have cast doubt on the safety and integrity of the electoral process across Pakistan’s four provinces. The series of attacks has raised questions about the potential impact on voter turnout and the ability to conduct fair and transparent elections.