Pakistanis mourning victims of carnage ahead of elections
QUETTA, Pakistan — Pakistanis observed a day of mourning on Sunday for the victims of the horrific weekend attacks that killed 153 people, including a provincial assembly candidate during an election rally in southwestern Baluchistan province.
That attack killed 149 people. Another suicide bombing also on Friday struck an election campaign convoy in northwestern Pakistan, killing four.
Friday’s suicide bombing in Mastung district took place as the Baluchistan Awami Party’s candidate Siraj Raisani was holding a rally. Another 300 people were wounded.
The deadly attacks occurred just hours before Pakistan’s disgraced prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London to face a 10-year jail sentence for corruption. He and his daughter Maryam, who was sentenced to seven years, were taken to jail upon their return. They are expected to appeal their conviction on Monday.