The US today strongly condemned the attacks on political candidates and their supporters in Pakistan, describing them as "cowardly attempts" to deprive the Pakistani people of their democratic rights.
At least 133 people, including Balochistan Awami Party leader Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, were killed and over 200 others injured yesterday in a powerful suicide blast and a targeted attack on separate election rallies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Yesterday's violence was the deadliest in a series of assaults on political candidates ahead of the July 25 polls.
"These attacks are cowardly attempts to deprive the Pakistani people of their democratic rights," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said yesterday.
"We grieve with those mourning the victims, and hope for a rapid recovery of those injured. We will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan and the broader South Asia region in their fight against terrorism," she said.
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