This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/world/middleeast/more-killed-in-pakistan-in-bombings-ahead-of-election.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| More Killed in Pakistan in Bombings Ahead of Election | More Killed in Pakistan in Bombings Ahead of Election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ISLAMABAD — Taliban attacks on election candidates in northwestern Pakistan killed at least eight people and wounded dozens Sunday, adding to a growing toll of militant violence in the run-up to elections scheduled for May 11. | ISLAMABAD — Taliban attacks on election candidates in northwestern Pakistan killed at least eight people and wounded dozens Sunday, adding to a growing toll of militant violence in the run-up to elections scheduled for May 11. |
| A bomb planted outside the office of a Shiite politician in the garrison city of Kohat killed five people, police officials said, while a second explosion near the office of a tribal candidate in the regional capital, Peshawar, killed at least three. | A bomb planted outside the office of a Shiite politician in the garrison city of Kohat killed five people, police officials said, while a second explosion near the office of a tribal candidate in the regional capital, Peshawar, killed at least three. |
| A Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which neither candidate was wounded. | A Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which neither candidate was wounded. |
| At least 50 people have died since early April in election-related attacks, mostly carried out by the Taliban, that have damaged public confidence in the elections and underscored the determination of militants to violently influence the results. | At least 50 people have died since early April in election-related attacks, mostly carried out by the Taliban, that have damaged public confidence in the elections and underscored the determination of militants to violently influence the results. |
| The bloodshed had been concentrated in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where the Taliban have vowed to attack rallies organized by the secular-minded Awami National Party, but the violence has spread to other provinces in the last week. | The bloodshed had been concentrated in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where the Taliban have vowed to attack rallies organized by the secular-minded Awami National Party, but the violence has spread to other provinces in the last week. |
| In the port city of Karachi, at least 24 people have died since Tuesday in a series of bombings against the Awami Party and the secular-minded Muttahida Qaumi Movement party, which dominates the city’s politics. Attacks in the city on Saturday killed six. | In the port city of Karachi, at least 24 people have died since Tuesday in a series of bombings against the Awami Party and the secular-minded Muttahida Qaumi Movement party, which dominates the city’s politics. Attacks in the city on Saturday killed six. |
| In northwestern Baluchistan Province, Baluch nationalists claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a candidate from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party that missed its target, Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, but killed his son, brother and nephew. | In northwestern Baluchistan Province, Baluch nationalists claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a candidate from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party that missed its target, Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, but killed his son, brother and nephew. |
| Thousands of teachers in Baluchistan have refused to work at polling stations because of militant threats, the newspaper Dawn reported Sunday. | Thousands of teachers in Baluchistan have refused to work at polling stations because of militant threats, the newspaper Dawn reported Sunday. |
| Campaigning has been largely unaffected, however, in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, which is the stronghold of the opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, who remains the favorite to become prime minister. | Campaigning has been largely unaffected, however, in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, which is the stronghold of the opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, who remains the favorite to become prime minister. |
| The former cricketer Imran Khan, who has advocated talking to the Taliban instead of fighting them, has also avoided attacks while holding large rallies in Punjab and the northwest. At a rally Saturday, Mr. Khan told supporters that ‘‘the teachings of Sufism’’ would help to combat the scourge of militancy. | The former cricketer Imran Khan, who has advocated talking to the Taliban instead of fighting them, has also avoided attacks while holding large rallies in Punjab and the northwest. At a rally Saturday, Mr. Khan told supporters that ‘‘the teachings of Sufism’’ would help to combat the scourge of militancy. |
| The governing Pakistan Peoples Party, which has also been threatened by the Taliban, has largely escaped violence by scaling back its campaigning in the most sensitive areas. | The governing Pakistan Peoples Party, which has also been threatened by the Taliban, has largely escaped violence by scaling back its campaigning in the most sensitive areas. |
| Pakistan’s military, which is conducting operations against the Taliban in the tribal belt, has kept a low profile during the surge in attacks on politicians, although it will provide security on election day. | Pakistan’s military, which is conducting operations against the Taliban in the tribal belt, has kept a low profile during the surge in attacks on politicians, although it will provide security on election day. |
| Fears are growing that a major militant attack before May 11, particularly one targeting a major political leader, could have a destabilizing effect on the vote itself. Memories are still fresh of the assassination of the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, weeks before the last election in 2008. | Fears are growing that a major militant attack before May 11, particularly one targeting a major political leader, could have a destabilizing effect on the vote itself. Memories are still fresh of the assassination of the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, weeks before the last election in 2008. |
| Sunday’s attacks in the northwest targeted independent candidates from the tribal belt. Police said they suspected the Shiite candidate in Kohat could have been targeted by sectarian extremists. | Sunday’s attacks in the northwest targeted independent candidates from the tribal belt. Police said they suspected the Shiite candidate in Kohat could have been targeted by sectarian extremists. |
| ‘‘As if providing security to our candidates from Peshawar was not enough, we now have to look after the tribal candidates,’’ said Liaqat Khan, the Peshawar city police chief. | ‘‘As if providing security to our candidates from Peshawar was not enough, we now have to look after the tribal candidates,’’ said Liaqat Khan, the Peshawar city police chief. |
Ismail Khan contributed reporting from Peshawar, Pakistan. |