CEC seeks report from KP CM, IG on Bannu blast

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Muhammad Raza Khan on Friday sought a report from the caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and inspector general of police on a terrorist attack on former federal minister Akram Khan Durrani’s convoy in Bannu. 

At least four people were killed while over a dozen others suffered injuries when a remote-controlled bomb hit the convoy of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) candidate in a Bannu neighborhood on Friday morning. He, however, remained safe in the attack.

While condemning the terrorist attack, the CEC questioned why proper security arrangements were not made despite the Commission’s directions in this regard.

He issued directives for provision of security to all election candidates without any discrimination. He directed the provincial authorities to ensure holding of the general elections in a peaceful environment.

Former KP chief minister Akram Khan Durrani is contesting election in NA-35, Bannu, from the platform of the MMA, a recently revived alliance of the religio-political parties.

He will face off Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, who is up for five NA seats across the country this time, including the one in Bannu.

This is the second terrorist attack targeting an election candidate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Haroon Bilour and over a dozen others were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a corner meeting in Peshawar’s Yakatut area.

Bilour was contesting the upcoming general election from the PK-78 constituency of Peshawar.