Islamabad: Eight bomb explosions in 24 hours in Pakistan’s three provincial capitals left 11 people dead and around 60 injured, heightening security fears ahead of the May 11 general election in the country, according to police and media reports.
Workers and supporters of political parties were among the victims of the blasts, which occurred in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar, capitals of southern Sindh province, southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively.
Early on Wednesday, an explosion in Quetta caused by a bomb planted in a bicycle and detonated by remote control wounded 13 people, a day after four explosions, including a suicide car bomb, killed six people and injured around 40 in the city, local officials said.
The bomber detonated his explosive-laden car in Quetta when intercepted by a paramilitary soldier, who was killed in the blast.
Police believe the bomber wanted to target a leader of the Hazara Democratic Party who was in the area to address an election campaign rally.
Banned sectarian extremist outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi reportedly claimed responsibility for the car bombing in Quetta, where in January deadly twin bombs killed over hundred people in an area inhabited mostly by the Shia Hazara community.
Two roadside bomb explosions were reported on Wednesday from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one in the provincial capital, Peshawar and another in the city of Dera Ismail Khan. Several people were injured in the explosions.
The northwestern province has witnessed a string of attacks, mainly against workers and leaders of the Awami National Party in recent weeks after local Taliban threatened to target this secular party.
