35 killed, 67 injured in violence across Pakistan on Election Day

An Islamic State suicide bomber blew himself up outside a polling station killing 31 people in Pakistan's southwestern Quetta city today and four others were murdered in poll-related violence as the country went to polls to elect a new government.

The suicide bomber blew himself up after he was stopped from entering the Tameer-i-Nau Education Complex school, which is serving as a polling station in 'sensitive' NA-260 constituency in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, police said.

Earlier reports had said the bomber targeted a police van.

At least 31 people, including five policemen, were killed and 60 others injured in the blast in the Bhosa Mandi area of the provincial capital.

The bomber wanted to enter the polling station near Quetta's Eastern Bypass but failed due to heavy presence of the Frontier Corps and the police in and outside the polling station, senior police officer Ejaz Goraya said.

"The bomber then blew himself up near a police van outside the polling station. I can confirm that the suicide attack has left 31 people dead and around 32 have been shifted to the Civil Hospital," he said.

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Pakistan Army has stationed over 3,70,000 personnel across the country to ensure security for the election, bolstered by an additional 4,50,000 police.