The attack in Pakistan leaves at least 128 dead

Quetta, Pakistan .- A suicide bomber killed 128 people yesterday at a rally in Mastung, in western Pakistan, ahead of the July 25 legislative elections, according to authorities, amid growing tension over the return of fallen Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was arrested while returning to his nation.

This is the most serious attack in the country for more than a year and is the third election violence incident this week. A first report reported 85 deaths. Later, "the toll has risen to 128 dead," said Interior Minister Agha Umar Bungalzai.

Islamist militants linked to the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) operated in the province, border with Iran and with Afghanistan. In addition, the local Baluch ethnic group is fighting against the central government

The IS has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group's news agency, l & # 39; ; QAMA. Among the dead was Baluchistan Provincial Assembly candidate Siraj Raisani, whose brother Nawab Aslam Raisani served as provincial chief between 2008 and 2013.

"My brother Siraj Raisani was martyred", said Haji Lashkari Raisani. The brother who also sought a seat in the Baluchistan National Assembly

"He died as a result of his injuries during his transfer to Quetta," said Bungalzai

Raisani was the second candidate to die in pre-election violence. week Police claimed earlier that the attack was aimed at Raisani's caravan, but later changed his statement after a video of a large tent showing the damage of the explosion has circulated.

Earlier, an explosion was killed four people in the northern city of Bannu, in an attack allegedly directed against the caravan of Akram Khan Durrani, an ally of the Sharif party.

Sharif, sentenced in absentia last week to 10 years in prison for corruption, was arrested on his return to his country. The former Prime Minister and his daughter Maryam, arrived in Lahore aboard a flight from Abu Dhabi, were "arrested" by anti-corruption authorities and taken to Islamabad, the capital, according to a statement from the municipality of Islamabad.

"I know (…) they will take me directly to jail," Sharif said in a video released yesterday by his party, in which he appears sitting on a plane. "I want to say to the Pakistanis that I did it for you (…) Walk with me, join mine and change the destiny of the country," he said.

The condemnation, which his clan calls "political", triggered tension before the July 25 legislative elections in the country, which the PML-N, in power since 2013, hopes to win. A tense tension on Thursday when Nawaz's brother and party leader, Shahbaz Sharif, said that "hundreds of militants" of the formation, the PML-N, had been arrested in recent days to prevent them from expressing their views. support for Sharif.

"The whole world knows that the PML-N is targeted," added the former prime minister and denounced a "scandalous pre-election fraud".

Sharif was fired by the Supreme Court from the post of prime minister in July 2017 after he became public as his family owns luxury real estate. A Pakistani court later banned him from leading the party and participating in permanent elections.

His clan denies embezzling and claims that Sharif is the victim of a conspiracy by the powerful Pakistani army.