Rockets fired at polling station, no casualties reported
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TURBAT – A polling station in Balochistan reportedly came under attack on Tuesday when unidentified men fired rockets ahead of July 25 elections.
No casualty was reported in the attack. Security forces said the attackers fled the crime scene on retaliation.
Tuesday’s attack was the latest in a series of attacks that have killed hundreds, including politicians, during election campaigns.
Authorities have warned of possible terrorist attacks on election day and intelligence agencies say a number of high-profile politicians are on hit-list.
About 371,000 troops will spread out across Pakistan to guard the election, about three times the number during the last election in 2013.
The electoral commission this month granted broad election powers to the military, enabling it to hold on-the-spot trials of anyone breaking election laws and sentence them.
The Election Commission of Pakistan, while dismissing the criticism, said the military deployment was only meant to ensure a free and fair election.
The army would remain neutral, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a news conference this month.