Four individuals, including three affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, tragically lost their lives in a bomb explosion that rocked the Balochistan region on Tuesday. The incident unfolded during a rally organized by the PTI, occurring mere hours following Imran Khan's sentencing to a 10-year jail term.
In a somber video message shared on PTI's official platform, Provincial General Secretary Balochistan for PTI, Salar Khan Kakar, confirmed the loss of three PTI members, stating that seven others sustained injuries as a result of the blast.
Contrary to Kakar's statement, Dr. Babar, the medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Sibi, reported to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper that five individuals were injured in the explosion. The severity of their conditions prompted concerns of a potential rise in the casualty count.
Footage capturing the moment of the explosion in the Sibi area of Balochistan depicts chaotic scenes as PTI members react to the sudden blast, highlighting the harrowing nature of the incident.
Expressing condemnation and grief, PTI leader Salar Khan Kakar condemned the tragic occurrence, emphasizing the need for prioritizing counterterrorism efforts over the safety of PTI workers.
This unfortunate event occurred merely nine days ahead of the scheduled February 8 general elections, raising concerns about its potential impact on the electoral process.
In response to the incident, the Election Commission of Pakistan swiftly took action, initiating an inquiry and requesting an immediate report from the chief secretary and police chief of Balochistan.
