*QUETTA: *At least 111 people, including Balochistan Awami Party leaderSiraj Raisani, were martyred and several others injured in a suicide attackin Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday in the third such attack onelection candidates in the run up to July 25 polls.

The Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish, claimedresponsibility of the attack, according to the group’s Amaq agency.

Provincial caretaker home minister, Agha Umar Bangulzai confirmed the deathtoll.

Siraj was attacked during a corner meeting organised for the promotion ofhis candidature for the constituency of PB-35. Siraj’s death was confirmedby his brother Lashkari Raisani.

After the incident, a large contingent of security forces cordoned off thearea with the injured shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta, where an emergencywas imposed.

Siraj is also the brother of former Balochistan chief minister MohammadAslam Khan Raisani.