At least six security personnel were killed in separate attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Pakistan on the day of the country’s national election on Thursday.
The incidents came as nearly 128 million people across the country cast their votes amid an internet and cellular outage. Earlier in the day, the interior ministry said the decision to block mobile network services was taken in view of the security situation. In KP’s Dera Ismail Khan district, four police officials were martyred in an attack on a police patrol.
According to local police chief Rauf Qaisrani, bomb blasts and firing targeted a police convoy in the Kulachi area. He added that the area had been cordoned off and further investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, two Levies and police personnel were martyred in Balochistan’s Kharan. The district’s deputy commissioner, Munir Ahmed Soomro, told Dawn.com that the incident occurred when a Levies vehicle hit a landmine en route to a polling station.

The official said seven security personnel were injured in the incident. Those in critical condition have been moved to Quetta, DC Soomro added.

On Wednesday, at least 28 people were killed and more than 30 wounded by two bomb blasts outside the offices of candidates in the province in attacks claimed hours later by the Islamic State group.