Former Pakistan PM’s Son Abducted at Election Rally

Ex Prime Minister Raza Gilani

There has been a report that the son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has been abducted by unidentified gunmen during his own campaign rally at their hometown of Multan on Thursday.

A candidate for the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Ali Haider was kidnapped in an ensuing gunfire during the rally. His secretary was reported to have been killed in the process, leaving several others with scores of injuries.

Police officer Khurram Shakur told reporters that people came on a motorbike and a black Honda car. Then, they opened fire at the rally, and abducted Gilani’s son, Ali Haider in the car.

Eyewitnesses added that Ali Haider was injured in the gun attack, as he was bleeding when his abductors put him in the car.

Mr Gilani has accused his political rivals as being the perpetrators of the crime, ahead of Saturday’s elections.

“We want our brother back tonight. If we don’t get him, we will not allow elections to be held in our area,” elder brother of Haider, Musa, told reporters in tears.

“There is a war going on between pro- and anti-Taliban forces in this country. They have captured the son of our leader. We are saddened by this and praying that he is safely recovered”, former interior minister Rehman Malik told an Al Jazeera correspondent.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Although, the Pakistani Taliban has promised to dispatch suicide bombers to carry out attacks at the upcoming election, as they have threatened to prevent all parties from conducting any election.

Explosion at a JUI-F Rally in Pakistan Leaves Many Injured

There have been reports of an explosion killing at least 15 people, and leaving several injured at a political rally of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam faction candidate, Munir Orakzai in Kurram Agency on Monday.

Although, Orakzai was believed to have escaped the bombing unhurt, a government administrator in the region claimed about 50 people were injured in the attack.

He also added that the bomb appeared to have been placed in the building where the rally was to be held by the national assembly candidates of JUI faction.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but, it is not news that the Pakistani Taliban has strongly opposed the elections, calling it “un-Islamic”, and carrying it out its threats to disrupt the activities of the main parties in the outgoing coalition.

Interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mir Hazar, has strongly condemned the attack, as the violence has continuously risen ahead of the general elections, with over 60 people killed in the attacks directed at the political parties and their candidates since April 11.