QUETTA: In an unfortunate incident a day before the election day, at least 26 people were killed and scores injured in twin bomb explosions in Balochistan's Pishin and Qilla Saifullah districts today, raising concerns over security in the lead-up to tomorrow's elections.

The blast in Pishin targeted the election campaign office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar in the Khanozai Tehsil of Pishin district, in PB-47 constituency of Pishin district while the bombing in Qilla Saifullah occurred outside the election office of JUI-F. The explosion in Pishin claimed the lives of at least 16 people and 10 people people succumbed to the terrorist attack in Qilla Saifullah. Khanzai Hospital, close to the site of the explosion, gave the death toll as 12 and said more than two dozen were injured. Deputy Commissioner of Pishin district, Jumma Dad Khan, said that the blast had injured many people.

The attack came as political parties wrapped up their campaigning in the quiet period mandated by electoral rules the day before the election.

Balochistan’s caretaker Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Zubair Khan Jamali took notice of the blast. Expressing regret over the deaths caused by the explosion, the minister sought a report from the deputy commissioner. Denouncing the attack as an attempt by the "country’s enemies" to create instability, Jamali maintained that the election process would continue.

Security forces cordoned off the area and emergency services initiated a rescue operation. The injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities. Today's explosion is the latest in a seri