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| Former Pakistan PM Gilani's son shot and kidnapped at rally | Former Pakistan PM Gilani's son shot and kidnapped at rally |
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| A scion of one of Pakistan's most famous political families was shot and kidnapped on Thursday, marring the final hours of a general election campaign that has become electrified in recent days. | A scion of one of Pakistan's most famous political families was shot and kidnapped on Thursday, marring the final hours of a general election campaign that has become electrified in recent days. |
| News of the attack on Ali Haider Gilani, the 27-year-old son of a former prime minister, threatened to overshadow the last day of official campaigning in the unpredictable contest. Gilani, who is standing for a seat in the provincial assembly of Punjab province, was kidnapped after gunmen opened fire at a campaign gathering of a few hundred supporters on his political home turf, the city of Multan. | News of the attack on Ali Haider Gilani, the 27-year-old son of a former prime minister, threatened to overshadow the last day of official campaigning in the unpredictable contest. Gilani, who is standing for a seat in the provincial assembly of Punjab province, was kidnapped after gunmen opened fire at a campaign gathering of a few hundred supporters on his political home turf, the city of Multan. |
| Two of his guards who attempted to shield him from a volley of gunfire were killed and several other people were injured, including the candidate himself, who was reportedly bleeding as he was dragged into a black vehicle and whisked away. | Two of his guards who attempted to shield him from a volley of gunfire were killed and several other people were injured, including the candidate himself, who was reportedly bleeding as he was dragged into a black vehicle and whisked away. |
| The snatching of the son of Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified as prime minister in June last year, represents one of the most high-profile attacks amid a political process hit by record violence. More than 100 people have been killed by attacks, most launched by the Pakistani Taliban, which singled out three leading secular parties for attention, including Gilani's Pakistan Peoples party (PPP). | The snatching of the son of Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified as prime minister in June last year, represents one of the most high-profile attacks amid a political process hit by record violence. More than 100 people have been killed by attacks, most launched by the Pakistani Taliban, which singled out three leading secular parties for attention, including Gilani's Pakistan Peoples party (PPP). |
| The threats have forced PPP candidates to abandon the traditional public engagements and vast rallies that characterise politics in South Asia. Instead they have relied on a largely policy-free advertising campaign which has eulogised Benazir Bhutto, a PPP leader assassinated in 2007. | The threats have forced PPP candidates to abandon the traditional public engagements and vast rallies that characterise politics in South Asia. Instead they have relied on a largely policy-free advertising campaign which has eulogised Benazir Bhutto, a PPP leader assassinated in 2007. |
| On Thursday it was reported that the party's chairman, Bhutto's 24 year old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, would probably not vote because of the security threats to him. The heir to the Bhutto political dynasty has even spent portions of the campaign in Dubai. | On Thursday it was reported that the party's chairman, Bhutto's 24 year old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, would probably not vote because of the security threats to him. The heir to the Bhutto political dynasty has even spent portions of the campaign in Dubai. |
| The Gilani family, landowning powerbrokers who have long enjoyed local influence as shrine custodians, dominate Multan. | The Gilani family, landowning powerbrokers who have long enjoyed local influence as shrine custodians, dominate Multan. |
| In addition to the seat contested in the provincial assembly, three other members of Ali Haider Gilani's immediate family, including two of his brothers, are contesting seats in the national assembly. | In addition to the seat contested in the provincial assembly, three other members of Ali Haider Gilani's immediate family, including two of his brothers, are contesting seats in the national assembly. |
| Although he complained that the police had not given his family enough security, Yousuf Raza Gilani told PPP supporters to remain calm and said the polls should go ahead on Saturday. | Although he complained that the police had not given his family enough security, Yousuf Raza Gilani told PPP supporters to remain calm and said the polls should go ahead on Saturday. |
| "We will not allow people to sabotage the election," he said. "We will not derail democracy in the country due to my son," headded. "I will sacrifice my son for democracy in the country." | |
| Authorities have long been concerned that an upsurge in violence could suppress turn out. | Authorities have long been concerned that an upsurge in violence could suppress turn out. |
| According to a letter issued by the Pakistani Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, militants are under instruction to carry out suicide bomb attacks across the country during polling on Saturday. | According to a letter issued by the Pakistani Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, militants are under instruction to carry out suicide bomb attacks across the country during polling on Saturday. |
| "We don't accept the system of infidels which is called democracy," Mehsud said in the letter, dated May 1. | "We don't accept the system of infidels which is called democracy," Mehsud said in the letter, dated May 1. |
| But despite the threats of violence the mood on Thursday night was one of intense excitement, with broadcasters unveiling special election coverage studios and the leading parties rounding off their campaigns with a final burst of political theatre. | But despite the threats of violence the mood on Thursday night was one of intense excitement, with broadcasters unveiling special election coverage studios and the leading parties rounding off their campaigns with a final burst of political theatre. |
| Nawaz Sharif, the front runner and head of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), was due to address a final rally in his home town of Lahore. The billionaire industrialist who has twice served as prime minister before has made his pitch with promises of economic growth and big infrastructure projects.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) of former cricket Imran Khan, who has inspired an army of young supporters with his promise to deliver a new Pakistan, geared up for what the party described as a grand finale on Islamabad's sprawling ceremonial boulevard. | Nawaz Sharif, the front runner and head of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), was due to address a final rally in his home town of Lahore. The billionaire industrialist who has twice served as prime minister before has made his pitch with promises of economic growth and big infrastructure projects.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) of former cricket Imran Khan, who has inspired an army of young supporters with his promise to deliver a new Pakistan, geared up for what the party described as a grand finale on Islamabad's sprawling ceremonial boulevard. |
| Khan himself remained in hospital in Lahore where he has been since Tuesday night, when he suffered severe injuries to his back after falling from a stage at a rally. | Khan himself remained in hospital in Lahore where he has been since Tuesday night, when he suffered severe injuries to his back after falling from a stage at a rally. |
| He was expected to appear by video link to the tens of thousands of people who had flooded Islamabad's main avenue, which is overlooked by the country's parliament. | He was expected to appear by video link to the tens of thousands of people who had flooded Islamabad's main avenue, which is overlooked by the country's parliament. |
| The party has made the most of Khan's hospitalisation by continuously broadcasting television adverts showing the PTI founder in a hospital bed just hours after his fall. | The party has made the most of Khan's hospitalisation by continuously broadcasting television adverts showing the PTI founder in a hospital bed just hours after his fall. |
| The sight of Khan, wearing a neck brace and lying flat in bed, has engendered huge public sympathy for a man who has created a sense of surging momentum in the last days of the campaign. | The sight of Khan, wearing a neck brace and lying flat in bed, has engendered huge public sympathy for a man who has created a sense of surging momentum in the last days of the campaign. |
| The late rise of Khan has made predicting the final outcome extremely difficult. Although most analysts anticipate a hung parliament, estimates for the number of seats the PTI might win vary enormously. Even 10 seats – now at the low end of most predictions – would represent a breakthrough for Khan, whose party has only ever won a single seat in the past. | |
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