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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
(about 2 hours later)
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 an electric general election campaign that concluded with Imran Khan addressing a vast gathering of supporters from his hospital bed.
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. The attack on Ali Haider Gilani, the 27- year-old son of a former prime minister, happened on the final day of official campaigning in a contest made all the more unpredictable by the momentum gained in recent days by Khan, a former cricket star hoping to transform politics.
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. Gilani, who is standing for a seat in the provincial assembly of Punjab province, was kidnapped after bearded gunmen who had arrived by car and motorbikes opened fire at a campaign gathering in the city of Multan.
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). Two 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 in a campaign hit by daily acts of violence.
More than 100 people have been killed during the campaign by attacks launched by the Pakistani Taliban which has 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. He wound up the PPP's campaign no Thursday with a video address to supporters in Islamabad that was dwarfed by the one thrown by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI).
The Gilani family, landowning powerbrokers who have long enjoyed local influence as shrine custodians, dominate Multan and news of the kidnapping sparked protests across the city.
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 the culprits were not immediately identified, some members of the Gilani family laid the blame at banned Sunni sectarian militant groups Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They said the young candidate had become a hate figure from the militants after campaigning for votes from the city's minority Shia community.
"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." Some of his brothers vowed to boycott the election but Yousuf Raza Gilani told PPP supporters to remain calm.
"We will not derail democracy in the country due to my son," he said. "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 frontrunner and head of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), addressed a final rally in his home town of Lahore.
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. But broadcasters cut away from the hoarse and visibly exhausted former two-time prime minister to show extraordinary scenes from Islamabad where a huge crowd had filled the city's expansive main avenue to listen to live video address from Imran Khan, who hopes to sweep away the PML-N.
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. Khan has been resting in hospital in Lahore since Tuesday night after suffering serious injuries to his back after tumbling some 15 foot from a stage at a rally.
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 former national cricket captain who has inspired an army of young supporters with his promise to deliver a "New Pakistan" appeared on giant screens lying in bed, his head surrounded by Pakistani flags.
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. Talking softly to an estimated crowd of 25,000 he told his supporters that they had a "golden opportunity" to change Pakistan.
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. "My message for you is that you have got a chance and you should seize it," he said.
The party has made the most of Khan's hospitalisation by continuously broadcasting television adverts showing the PTI founder in hospital just hours after his fall.
The sight of Khan, wearing a neck brace and lying flat in bed, engendered huge public sympathy for a man who has successfully 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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