ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) leader and former senator Daud Khan Achakzai was injured on Monday when unknown armed men broke into his election office in the southwestern city of Chaman and opened fire.
ANP spokesperson Dr. Waseem Baig confirmed to Arab News that the ANP leader sustained bullet injuries but is out of danger.
Achakzai was taken to Quetta’s Civil Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
The incident is fourth in a series of recent attacks targeting political candidates and the second such attack on an ANP leader after ANP candidate Haroon Bilour was killed in a bomb blast during the election campaign in Peshawar on July 10.
The attack on Achakzai comes a day after caretaker Prime Minister Nasir-ul Mulk presided over a high-level meeting at the Governor House in Quetta to review the law and order situation in the province.
The prime minister strongly condemned the recent terrorist incidents on political candidates in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, advising that precautions should be taken and public awareness campaigns should be launched immediately to inform the public of the situation.
Mulk also urged that security is beefed up in the province and political candidates are taken into confidence regarding the measures taken.
On Saturday, the National Counter Terrorism Authority Chief Dr. Suleman Ahmad issued a security warning to the Election Commission of Pakistan stating that almost all leaders belonging to all major political parties faced the threat of terrorist attacks.
The briefing took place days after a senior official named six politicians under threat, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, ANP leaders Asfandyar Wali Khan and Ameer Haider Hoti, Qaumi Watan Party head Aftab Sherpao and banned outfit Jamaatud Dawa (Jud) chief Hafiz Saeed’s son Talha Saeed. The senior leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are also under threat.
Meanwhile, the toll in the second deadliest terror attack in the country’s history, targeting an election campaign event in Mastung, rose to a staggering 149 dead and 189 injured.
Daesh and a faction of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan both claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security beefed up in Balochistan as another ANP leader is attacked
Security beefed up in Balochistan as another ANP leader is attacked
- An attack on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Daud Khan Achakzai came a day after caretaker Prime Minister Nasir-ul Mulk presided over a high-level meeting at the Governor House in Quetta to review the law and order situation in Balochistan
- This is the second attack on an ANP political candidate after the death of Haroon Bilour in a bomb blast as he was campaigning in Peshawar on July 10
Pakistan bowl first against Netherlands in T20 World Cup opener
- The Pakistan government has instructed its national team to boycott its Feb. 15 Group A game against co-host India
- The ICC has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider the decision otherwise it will forfeit the marquee game
COLOMBO: Pakistan, at the center of a boycott controversy that has overshadowed the lead up to the T20 World Cup, has won the toss and elected to field against the Netherlands in the tournament’s opening game on Saturday.
The Pakistan government has instructed its national team to boycott its Feb. 15 Group A game against co-host India, a decision that shook the cricket world only six days ago.
The ICC has since requested the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider the decision otherwise it will forfeit the marquee game of the tournament.
If Pakistan goes ahead with its boycott against India, it can ill afford to lose points in its three other Group A games — a group that also features the US and Namibia.
A grassy wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, hosting its first T20 in 16 years, surprised Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.
“First time I’ve seen this much grass in Sri Lanka,” Agha said at the toss. “We’re playing three pacers and allrounders. Netherlands are a good side, but we want to execute our plans.”
The Netherlands has a history of surprising stronger opposition in T20 World Cups, including beating South Africa in 2022 in Australia which cleared the way for Pakistan to qualify for the semifinals.
Captain Scott Edwards said his team had got used to the conditions after spending more than a month in India and Sri Lanka.
“For us, it’s a big game, so are the other three,” Edwards said.
LATER SATURDAY
In the two other games on Saturday, Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh in Group C, will meet two-time champion West Indies in Kolkata while co-host and defending champion India plays against the US at Mumbai in a Group A match.
LINEUPS
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (captain), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren.
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.
