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| Pakistan election: More than 100 die in bomb attacks on poll rallies | Pakistan election: More than 100 die in bomb attacks on poll rallies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bomber has killed at least 128 people and injured more than 150 in an attack on a campaign rally in south-western Pakistan, officials say. | A suicide bomber has killed at least 128 people and injured more than 150 in an attack on a campaign rally in south-western Pakistan, officials say. |
| An election candidate was among the dead in the town of Mastung. So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed the attack. | An election candidate was among the dead in the town of Mastung. So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed the attack. |
| Earlier, a bomb attack on a similar rally in the northern town of Bannu killed four people. The attacks come ahead of general elections on 25 July. | Earlier, a bomb attack on a similar rally in the northern town of Bannu killed four people. The attacks come ahead of general elections on 25 July. |
| Meanwhile, former PM Nawaz Sharif was arrested after flying home from the UK. | Meanwhile, former PM Nawaz Sharif was arrested after flying home from the UK. |
| Sharif and his daughter Maryam were taken into custody by officials from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after landing in the northern city of Lahore. They were then put on a chartered plane bound for Pakistan's capital Islamabad. | Sharif and his daughter Maryam were taken into custody by officials from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after landing in the northern city of Lahore. They were then put on a chartered plane bound for Pakistan's capital Islamabad. |
| They were later transferred to a local prison. | They were later transferred to a local prison. |
| The three-term PM was ousted last year after a corruption investigation. Last week he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison. | The three-term PM was ousted last year after a corruption investigation. Last week he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison. |
| He has accused Pakistan's powerful security establishment of conspiring against him ahead of the elections. | He has accused Pakistan's powerful security establishment of conspiring against him ahead of the elections. |
| What is known about Friday's attack? | What is known about Friday's attack? |
| The attack in Mastung was the deadliest such incident in Pakistan since 2014. | The attack in Mastung was the deadliest such incident in Pakistan since 2014. |
| Among those killed was Baluchistan provincial assembly candidate Siraj Raisani, his family said. He was a candidate for the Balochistan Awami party. | Among those killed was Baluchistan provincial assembly candidate Siraj Raisani, his family said. He was a candidate for the Balochistan Awami party. |
| Local officials say the attacker detonated a bomb inside a crowded compound where the campaign rally was being held. | Local officials say the attacker detonated a bomb inside a crowded compound where the campaign rally was being held. |
| "Human remains and red bloody pieces of flesh were littered everywhere in the compound," local journalist Attah Ullah was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | "Human remains and red bloody pieces of flesh were littered everywhere in the compound," local journalist Attah Ullah was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
| "Injured people were crying in pain and fear," the journalist said. | "Injured people were crying in pain and fear," the journalist said. |
| IS militants later used their news outlet to claim the group carried out the attack. | IS militants later used their news outlet to claim the group carried out the attack. |
| IS has carried out a number of the attack in the region on the border with Afghanistan in recent years. However, security has improved since the military managed to clear large swathes of territory. | |
| Earlier in the day, a campaign convoy of another candidate was attacked in Bannu. | Earlier in the day, a campaign convoy of another candidate was attacked in Bannu. |
| Akram Khan Durrani, who represents the MMA party, was unhurt, officials say. | Akram Khan Durrani, who represents the MMA party, was unhurt, officials say. |
| No group has so far claimed responsibility for that attack. | No group has so far claimed responsibility for that attack. |
| Secular parties targeted | Secular parties targeted |
| By BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad | By BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad |
| These attacks are unexpected as they come amid claims by the army that militants have been cleared from Pakistan's western regions on the Afghan border, which have become a sanctuary for the Taliban. | These attacks are unexpected as they come amid claims by the army that militants have been cleared from Pakistan's western regions on the Afghan border, which have become a sanctuary for the Taliban. |
| Before the 2013 elections, militants had issued early warnings, resulting in a muted campaign by targeted secular parties. Those parties lost the poll by wide margins. | Before the 2013 elections, militants had issued early warnings, resulting in a muted campaign by targeted secular parties. Those parties lost the poll by wide margins. |
| Those same parties and groups appear to be targets again. | Those same parties and groups appear to be targets again. |
| These latest attacks may also trigger a new set of tensions ahead of an election already marred by controversy. | These latest attacks may also trigger a new set of tensions ahead of an election already marred by controversy. |
| Significantly, the attacks come in the aftermath of the conviction of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by an anti-corruption court. | Significantly, the attacks come in the aftermath of the conviction of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by an anti-corruption court. |
| Friday's attacks came just hours before Sharif flew in from the UK to Lahore, and the city is under a lockdown ordered by authorities to prevent his supporters from staging a huge welcome for him. | Friday's attacks came just hours before Sharif flew in from the UK to Lahore, and the city is under a lockdown ordered by authorities to prevent his supporters from staging a huge welcome for him. |
| On Tuesday, a suicide bomber hit a campaign gathering in the northern city of Peshawar, killing 22 people - including a provincial candidate. | On Tuesday, a suicide bomber hit a campaign gathering in the northern city of Peshawar, killing 22 people - including a provincial candidate. |
| The Pakistani Taliban said it had carried out that attack. | The Pakistani Taliban said it had carried out that attack. |
| Tensions across Pakistan have been rising ahead of Sharif's return to the country. | Tensions across Pakistan have been rising ahead of Sharif's return to the country. |
| Thousands of police officers have been deployed and shipping containers have been placed on some main roads in to block supporters from reaching the airport. | Thousands of police officers have been deployed and shipping containers have been placed on some main roads in to block supporters from reaching the airport. |
| On Thursday, Sharif's PML-N party said hundreds of activists in Lahore had been detained ahead of Sharif's return. | On Thursday, Sharif's PML-N party said hundreds of activists in Lahore had been detained ahead of Sharif's return. |
| Pakistan's general election | Pakistan's general election |