News Analysis |
Awami National Party (ANP) leader and former party senator Daud Khan Achakzai have been injured in yet another firing incident in Balochistan. The unknown assailants opened fire on the guest house of the party’s candidate Zmrak Khan Achakzai in Chaman. The firing took place in Alizai area of Balochistan’s northwestern district, Qilla Abdullah. Achakzai was on a visit to meet the party’s candidate Zmrak Khan in the PB-21 constituency when unknown individuals opened fire.
The injured former Senator received bullets on his right arm in the attack but is said to be in stable condition and out of danger. After the initial treatment, the ANP leader has been transferred to the Trauma Centre, Civil Hospital, Quetta. The attackers fled the crime scene and Police have cordoned off the area and a search operation for the assailants is underway.
Mastung incident was a clear message from hostile elements who are trying to sabotage the upcoming elections. From ISIS to Taliban, different groups have taken the responsibility for the attacks on political leaders.
Despite the assurances from the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), a new wave of attack has questioned the role of the security agencies. Thus far more than 150 people have lost their lives in the series of attacks on politicians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces in the last week or so.
This questions the progress made against the anti-state forces in action to destabilize the country. The rise in the attacks after the arrest of former three-time PM Nawaz Sharif has also raised quite a few eyes brows. PTI chairman Imran Khan reacted on the emerging situation. “Beginning to wonder why whenever Nawaz Sharif is in trouble, there is increasing tension along Pakistan’s borders and a rise in terrorist acts. Is it a mere coincidence?” he tweeted.
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Shehbaz Sharif had condemned Imran’s attack on Nawaz and termed it a blatant lie. He reminded the public of Khan’s comments against the Army generals in a gathering in London. Political parties, PPP, ANP, and PML-N, in particular, have started to raise questions and showed apprehension over the possibility of elections on time.
On the other hand, NACTA has assured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that there was no “serious threat” to the general elections scheduled for July 25. NACTA National Coordinator Dr. Salman Khan said that “there is no serious threat to the 2018 general elections and the polls will be held on the scheduled date.”
Achakzai was on a visit to meet the party’s candidate Zmrak Khan in the PB-21 constituency when unknown individuals opened fire. The injured former Senator received bullets on his right arm in the attack but is said to be in stable condition and out of danger.
On July 10, the ANP candidate from PK-78 and leader Haroon Bilour and 21 others were martyred in a suicide attack in Peshawar. Although, Taliban claimed the responsibility but, deceased uncle- Ghulam Ahmed Bilour argued that attack was an inside job. The provincial assembly candidate and brother of former Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani-Nawab Siraj Raisani was also martyred along with 148 others. The so-called the militant Islamic State group-ISIS has accepted the responsibility for this gruesome attack.
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Moreover, former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani also came under attack in Haved Bazaar, Bannu. Such brutal attacks in the run-up to elections in various parts of the country have traumatized the nation. These attacks started on July 03, on the day, when the accountability court had reserved its verdict against Nawaz.
On July 09, NACTA had issued the warning against the attack on six-candidates from PTI, ANP and Qaumi Watan Party. Amid increasing attacks on politicians, political parties have demanded better security arrangements to ensure the free and fair election campaign for all. Despite the increase in deaths in last week or so, NACTA sees no serious threat to elections.
This questions the progress made against the anti-state forces in action to destabilize the country. The rise in the attacks after the arrest of former three-time PM Nawaz Sharif has also raised quite a few eyes brows. PTI chairman Imran Khan reacted on the emerging situation.
Bilour family had declared war against these anti-Pakistan elements. Haroon Bilour had shown support for Pakistan Army and had declared to stand by the brave soldiers of the institution till death. Raisani was a true patriot and had uttered priceless words for the love of motherland. “If I die, don’t waste a shed of your tear. Instead, continue to prosper for Pakistan. Then I shall know that we have won. I am Siraj Khan Raisani Baloch, & I will die as Pakistani,” he had declared.
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Mastung incident was a clear message from hostile elements who are trying to sabotage the upcoming elections. From ISIS to Taliban, different groups have taken the responsibility for the attacks on political leaders. The anti-state elements are mainly targeting those who have stood beside Pakistani State. The war is waged against the state. It aims to derail the peaceful transition of power from one civilian government to another, for the third-time in Pakistan’s 70-year history.