JUI leader Hafiz Hamdullah escapes attack in Balochistan

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah survived an attack by unidentified gunmen in Chaman district of Balochistan on Wednesday, Levies sources said.

According to Levies, Hamdullah was travelling in his car when unknown assailants opened fire at him near the Pak-Afghan border.

He escaped unhurt in the attack, while his car was damaged by the bullets.

Levies personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area. A search operation was launched to arrest the attackers.

Hamdullah is a former senator and the spokesman of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties.

Balochistan has witnessed a surge in violence in recent weeks.

Earlier, at least 28 people were killed and over 40 others injured Wednesday in two separate blasts targeting election candidates in Balochistan, just a day before the general election.

The first attack claimed at least 15 people’s lives while over 30 were injured after an explosion took place outside an independent candidate’s office in Balochistan’s Pishin while the second blast took place outside the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) office in the Qilla Saifullah district.

The Pishin blast took place outside the political office of independent candidate Asfand Yar Khan Kakar in Khanozai area. 

Kakar is contesting elections from NA-265 constituency and Balochistan Assembly constituencies — PB-47 and PB-48 in the February 8 elections.

The second blast targeted the JUI-F office in the Qilla Saifullah district.

At least 13 people were killed and 17 others injured in the second explosion, Balochistan Information Minister Achakzai said.

He said JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Wassay, who is contesting elections from PB-3, remained unhurt in the attack.

According to the local officials, the severely injured persons are being shifted to Quetta.

Meanwhile, emergency has been declared at the Civil Hospital Quetta as the health facility is tackling a number of seriously wounded persons.

Meanwhile, caretaker government has announced three day mourning in view of the two blasts that rocked the province killing more than 28 people while reaffirming that the elections will proceed as scheduled.