25 July 2018•Update: 25 July 2018
By Aamir Latif and Islamuddin Sajid
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD
Some 31 people were killed and 30 injured in a suspected suicide attack outside a polling station in southwestern Pakistan as the nation casts ballots in general elections, officials and local media reported Wednesday.
A suspected suicide bomber, acting alone, tried to enter a polling station on the eastern outskirts of Quetta, capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, but blew himself up when he was tackled by security personnel, local broadcaster Express News reported.
The blast took place near a long queue of voters, the channel reported.
City police chief Abdul Razzak Cheema told reporters that the dead included five policemen.
Authorities fear a rise in the death toll as several injured were in critical condition.
Daesh claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Caretaker Prime Minister Justice retired Nasir-ul-Mulk and several party leaders condemned the attack.
Another explosion rocked a polling station in the Larkana district of the southern Sindh province, the hometown of slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, injuring four people, Express TV reported.
Rival party workers clash
Clashes between party activists were also reported from several cities, injuring a dozen people, the channel reported.
At least one person was killed and five others injured in an armed clash between activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Awami National Party (ANP) in Swabi district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
"One worker of the PTI has been killed and four others are injured. An ANP worker was also injured in the clash," Khalid Hamdani, district police officer Swabi told local reporters.
The injured, some in critical condition, have been taken to a nearby hospital, he added.
Attack on military personnel
On Tuesday night, at least three military personnel and a civilian were killed, while 14 others wounded in a militant attack in southwestern Balochistan province near Iranian border, Pakistan army said on Wednesday.
The incident took place when soldiers were escorting the polling staff of NA-271 Buleda, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), media-wing of Pakistan army.
