QUETTA: In the aftermath of a devastating blast at a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) election office in Southwestern Balochistan, Hafiz Hamdullah, a prominent party leader, narrowly survived an assassination attempt in the Chaman area of the province.
According to police reports, unidentified assailants opened fire on Hafiz Hamdullah’s vehicle near Maizai Adda in Chaman. Fortunately, Hamdullah remained unharmed as his security team retaliated, causing the assailants to flee.
This marks the second attack on JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah amid a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.
In September last year, Hamdullah was among 11 people injured in a blast targeting his vehicle in Balochistan’s Mastung district. While no group claimed responsibility, JUI-F has been a consistent target of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
Earlier today, two separate deadly blasts were reported in Balochistan that left at least 29 people dead and more than 40 others wounded.
The first attack, reportedly a suicide bombing, occurred outside the campaign office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar in Pishin, claiming the lives of 15 people and injuring over 30.
The second blast targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) office in Qila Saifullah, resulting in the death of 13 individuals and injuring 17 others.