Pakistan polls: Awami National Party leader injured in firing

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Daud Khan Achakzai was injured on Monday when unknown assailants opened fire indiscriminately on a guest house where party candidate Zmrak Khan Achakzai was staying.

Daud, the ANP's central vice president, was paying a visit to Zmrak when the incident occurred in Chaman town, situated in Balochistan's Qilla Abdullah district, Geo TV reported.

The gunmen fled from the area immediately after firing on the guest house.

The police have cordoned off the entire area and a search operation has been launched.

Daud has been shifted to Quetta for further medical treatment.

This is the fourth attack targeting candidates and politicians ahead of the general elections in Pakistan on July 25.

On July 15, Pakistan observed a day of national mourning in light of the recent terrorist attacks on political candidates and their supporters.

On July 13, at least 130 people, including Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Siraj Raisani, were killed and over 200 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up during an election rally in Mastung, making it one of the single largest terror attacks in the history of Pakistan.

According to media reports, the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the Mastung attack.

The same day, at least four people were killed and a dozen others were injured in another blast in Bannu in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The bomb exploded near the rally of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam(F)'s Akram Khan Durrani, who is contesting election against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. Durrani escaped the attack unhurt, Geo News quoted Regional Police Officer (RPO), Bannu, Karim Khan in a report.

Earlier on July 9, Awami National Party (ANP) candidate from Peshawar Haroon Bilour and 19 others were killed in a suicide blast in Peshawar. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to media reports.

--ANI