Twin blasts kill 24 ahead of Pakistan election

Pakistan's election comes amid rising militant attacks in recent months and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes.

The first attack, which killed 14, took place at the office of an independent election candidate in Pishin district. 

The second explosion in Qilla Saifullah, a town near the Afghan border, detonated near an office of Jamiat Ulema Islam, a religious party that has previously been the target of militant attacks, according to the province's information minister.

At least 10 people were killed there, he said.

It's not immediately clear who was responsible for the two bomb blasts in Pakistan. (AP PHOTO)

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks. Several groups, including the Islamist militant Pakistani Taliban and separatist groups from Balochistan, oppose the Pakistani state and have carried out attacks in recent months.

"The Election Commission has asked the chief secretary and inspector general of Balochistan for immediate reports and instructed them to take action against those behind the events," an Election Commission spokesperson said in a statement.

The attacks came as political parties wrapped up their campaigning in the quiet period mandated by electoral rules the day before the election.

Earlier former prime minister Khan urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after casting their votes, as rival political parties held large rallies to mark the end of the election campaign period.

The 71-year-old and his wife Bushra Khan were sentenced on Saturday to seven years in prison and fined by a court that ruled their 2018 marriage violated the law.

That was the third adverse ruling against the embattled former leader, who is barred from taking part in the election.

He had previously be jailed for 10 years for leaking state secrets and 14 years, along with this wife, for illegally selling state gifts.

Any large-scale gathering of Khan's supporters near polling booths could raise tensions because of what they call a military-backed crackdown on him and his party that has restricted campaigning. The military denies interfering in politics.

"Encourage the maximum number of people to vote, wait at the polling station...and then stay peacefully outside the Returning Officer's office until the final results are announced," said Khan via his handle on social media platform X, accompanied by an undated photograph depicting him wearing simple black clothing.

Imran Khan's Message from Jail: — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) "My Pakistanis, I have been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for fighting for your Haqeeqi Azadi.Pakistan and I call for you to dedicate only 24 hours! Encourage the maximum number of people to vote, wait at the polling station until the… pic.twitter.com/OVMW5kiMq8February 6, 2024

The origin of the image, the first of Khan in months, was not clear. 

Previously Khan's supporters have disseminated his messages, including through AI-generated audio speeches, from notes he has passed on through his lawyers during prison visits.

Other political parties wrapped up their campaigns late on Tuesday ahead of the quiet period mandated by Pakistani electoral rules that prevent political campaigning the day before the election.

Electoral frontrunner Nawaz Sharif led a huge rally in the eastern city of Kasur, with his brother, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,  who is running in that constituency.

Amidst a sea of tens of thousands of supporters waving green party flags, Sharif called on the country's huge youth population to support his party and took aim at Khan who has previously attracted support from young voters in the area.

"Don't fall for him," Sharif said.

Supporters of the rival Pakistan People's Party also gathered in the southern city of Larkana led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who could play king-maker if no one party receives enough parliamentary seats to form a government outright.

The former foreign minister and son of assassinated prime minister Benazir Bhutto criticised opponents, including Sharif, for what he described as compromising the country's security and economy during their tenures.

With AP