Pakistan: 4 Killed In Bomb Blast Near Rally Of Imran Khan's PTI In Quetta

New Delhi: At least four people were killed Tuesday in a bombing near a political rally by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta, officials said. The incident occurred as the nation gears up for upcoming elections. A bomb planted on a motorbike detonated as supporters rallied for the jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan's party, AFP quoted police as informing.

Senior police official Farhan Zahid revealed, "The PTI rally was passing by there but it is not clear whether the rally was a target or not," as quoted by AFP.

Waseem Baig, a provincial health department spokesman mentioned, "Six people were wounded in addition to the four killed".

In a statement, the PTI party stated that three of its activists were among the dead at the rally -- a convoy of motorbikes and cars parading through the city to curry support for a candidate ahead of national elections scheduled for February 8. A party spokesman told AFP, "It was too soon to say whether they had been deliberately targeted".

Meanwhile, Pakistan's electoral commission said it was investigating the incident. 

The attack came just hours after PTI founder Khan was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of having leaked classified state documents.

The 71-year-old former cricket star was ousted from office in 2022 and launched a campaign of defiance against Pakistan's military kingmakers, who he said conspired to end his premiership.

 "They are suffering under an unprecedented crackdown designed to prevent their return to power through the February 8 poll", "Khan and PTI said, as per AFP.

Pakistan has also been suffering from a security crisis, with a dramatic uptick in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, as per an AFP report.

Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces, and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

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