Balochistan govt cites threats to political leaders, denies permission for gatherings

Memo confirmed personal threats to party heads including Imran Khan, Bilawal, Shehbaz Sharif and Akhtar Mengal.

The provincial government of Balochistan on Friday confirmed it has denied permission to heads of major political parties for visits or holding gatherings in light of recent terror threats.

A memo issued by the deputy commissioner of Naseerabad district stated meetings with security and intelligence officials confirmed there were personal threats to party heads of national stature including Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif and Akhtar Mengal.



Earlier in July, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) officials briefed the Senate Committee on Interior that almost all leading politicians, belonging to mainstream political parties face security threats in the lead up to the general election.

The country has witnessed several attacks on political rallies this month. ANP leader Haroon Bilour and 13 of his supporters were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a corner meeting his party had organised as part of his election campaign in the Yakatoot area of Peshawar on July 11.



On July 13, a suicide bomber targeting a political rally of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) killed at least 128 people and injured over 200, the deadliest in a string of attacks on electioneering that have heightened security fears ahead of the elections. Among those slain was the candidate for PB-35 (Mastung) Siraj Raisani, whose elder brother Nawab Aslam Raisani had served as the Balochistan chief minister from 2008 to 2013.