NASIRABAD: An independent election candidate and three other persons from Balochistan’s Jhal Magsi area were killed by unknown assailants on Monday night prompting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the elections in PB -32.

According to the police and relatives of the deceased, Abdul Fateh Magsi was kidnapped on Monday night and his bullet-riddled body was found on Tuesday morning.

But Levies sources said that armed gunmen had opened fire on Magsi's vehicle killing the independent candidate along with his relative and two security guards.

He was contesting elections as an independent candidate for Balochistan Assembly from Jhal Magsi.

The attack was followed by an exchange of fire between armed men and supporters of Magsi.

An announcement was later made by the provincial election commission of Balochistan that elections would be postponed in Jhal Magsi due to the incident.

The ECP is scheduled to announce the new dates for elections soon.

Police have started investigations, but no arrests have been made so far.

Frequency of militant and insurgent attacks and blast has recently increased in the restive province.