NA-8 election: PPP candidate escapes roadside blast

KHAR/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate for National Assembly constituency NA-8 Syed Akhunzada Chattan escaped unhurt in a blast targeting his vehicle on the Badan Road in Mamond tehsil, Bajaur tribal district.

Syed Akhunzada Chattan, who is considered close to PPP senior leadership, was returning home after addressing a public gathering in connection with election on NA-8.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had postponed the election on the National Assembly constituency NA-8 when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf dissident worker and independent candidate Rehanzeb was killed days before the 2024 general election.

The police said that the PPP candidate was targeted with a bomb planted in a motorcycle parked along the road. A contingent of the police arrived at the spot and launched a search operation. However, no arrests were made.

The PPP leader said that such cowardly attacks could not dampen his morale.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday condemned the attack on PPP leader Akhundzada Chattan in the constituency NA-8, Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and demanded arrest of the perpetrators.

“It is a matter of grave concern to target the PPP candidate during the election campaign,” he said in a statement. The PPP chairman said the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to maintain law and order during the by-election. “No coercion, violence and terrorism can demoralise PPP workers,” he said.