Blasts near Pakistan candidates' offices kill 26 on election eve

Paramilitary soldiers stand guard along a road, ahead of the general elections in Karachi, Pakistan February 7, 2024. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Two explosions near electoral candidates' offices in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan killed 26 people and wounded dozens on Wednesday, officials said, raising concerns over security on the eve of a general election.

Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday amid rising militant attacks and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country.