GRENADE ATTACK ON THE MQM ELECTION OFFICE IN QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN

Eye witness accounts reported that on Sunday, 17th. February 2008 around 3.30 p.m. (London Time) and 8.30 p.m. (Pakistan Time), Election Office of the MQM Candidate Mr. Abdul Ghani Kansi contesting for the National Assembly Constituency NA-259 situated at Joint Road, Quetta in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan was attacked by hand grenades by unknown terrorists’ riding on a motorbike.

Mr. Abdul Ghani Kansi, the candidate, Mr Abdul Hai Bangalzai, Joint Organiser of the MQM Balochistan, MQM workers Mr Abdul Jalil and Mr Arbab Raz Mohammad have been critically injured in the attack. The victims of this inhuman terrorists’ attack have been admitted into Civil Hospital, Quetta where Mr Abdul Jalil is undergoing neurosurgery at this point of time while others are also being treated in the intensive care unit for their critical injuries.

Certain political and religious parties have called for boycott of the elections. The on- going terror campaign and this attack is clearly aimed to subvert the peaceful elections to be held tomorrow, 18^th. February 2008. This attack has been made despite innumerable appeals of Mr Altaf Hussain, the leader of the MQM urging all political parties to ensure peace during the elections time. We urge upon you to request your observers visiting Pakistan to monitor the Elections to take notice of this terrorism inflicted on innocent and peace loving people and reflect this violence and terrorism against the MQM candidates and workers in their reports.