Son Of Ex-Pakistani Premier Kidnapped At Election Rally
Gunmen in Pakistan stormed an election rally and abducted the son of a former prime minister — the latest violence in a bloody campaign ahead of nationwide polling.
Armed men drove up to an election rally in the city of Multan, opened fire, grabbed Ali Haider Gilani and sped off, witnesses said. Gilani, who is running for a seat in the Punjab provincial assembly, is the son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
It was unclear if the candidate was wounded in the attack. Witnesses reported that he was dragged bloody to the kidnappers' vehicle. At least one member of Gilani's entourage was killed in the attack.
The Gilani family has deep roots in the Pakistan Peoples Party of President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday, the last day of campaigning ahead of Saturday's nationwide elections.
However, The Guardian newspaper quotes members of the Gilani family as saying they have gotten death threats from the Taliban and that despite appeals to police, have not received adequate security.
According to the BBC:
"Kidnapping is a tactic frequently used by militants and criminal groups across Pakistan. Ransom is an important revenue stream for the Pakistani Taliban and hostages can be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the authorities ..."