In a distressing turn of events, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Akhunzada Chattan survived an assassination attempt on Wednesday when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Mamund tehsil, Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as confirmed by local police reports.
The explosion, which detonated close to Chattan’s vehicle, failed to harm him as he was protected by the vehicle’s bomb-proof features. Chattan is actively campaigning as the PPP candidate for the NA-8 seat in the by-elections slated for April 21.
This alarming incident follows closely on the heels of another tragic event in the same district, where Rehan Zeb Khan, an independent candidate supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was murdered in the Siddiqabad area. In response to the increasing violence, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to postpone the elections in NA-8 along with PK-22.
The ECP issued an official notification to delay the polls after Khan was shot dead during his campaign. The attackers, who remain unidentified, also injured four others in the assault.
The postponement and ongoing violence cast a shadow over the electoral process, raising concerns about security for candidates and voters alike in the region. This incident marks a troubling escalation in pre-election violence, posing serious questions about safety measures and the impact on democratic processes.
