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| Son of Former Pakistani Leader Abducted as Campaign Nears End | Son of Former Pakistani Leader Abducted as Campaign Nears End |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday, throwing an already violence-ridden election campaign into more tumult. | |
| The motive behind the kidnapping remained unclear, but suspicion immediately focused on the Pakistani Taliban and banned sectarian militant groups. Taliban militants have issued several threats to political candidates, especially those belonging to liberal and secular parties, and have targeted political rallies with suicide and remote-controlled bombings. | |
| The kidnapping came just two days after a leading candidate in the race, the former cricket star Imran Khan, was hospitalized Tuesday because of a fall during a campaign rally, leaving him with back fractures, deep cuts and widespread sympathy that has already changed the dynamics of the race. Pakistan’s Taliban has threatened to disrupt the elections Saturday by carrying out suicide bombings, Reuters reported. | The kidnapping came just two days after a leading candidate in the race, the former cricket star Imran Khan, was hospitalized Tuesday because of a fall during a campaign rally, leaving him with back fractures, deep cuts and widespread sympathy that has already changed the dynamics of the race. Pakistan’s Taliban has threatened to disrupt the elections Saturday by carrying out suicide bombings, Reuters reported. |
| In Thursday’s incident, one of the former prime minister’s sons, Ali Haider Gilani, believed to be in his mid-20s, was campaigning in a suburb of Multan, the family’s power base. He is a candidate for the Punjab provincial assembly. | In Thursday’s incident, one of the former prime minister’s sons, Ali Haider Gilani, believed to be in his mid-20s, was campaigning in a suburb of Multan, the family’s power base. He is a candidate for the Punjab provincial assembly. |
| According to initial reports, Mr. Gilani had just stepped out of a house in the Farrukh Town neighborhood when he was attacked by a group of unidentified gunmen riding at least one motorcycle and in a Honda automobile. They then opened fire on him and his supporters. Mr. Gilani’s personal secretary was shot and killed. | |
| It remained unclear if Mr. Gilani himself was shot. Some witnesses said his clothes were bloodstained as he was dragged by the kidnappers into their vehicle. | It remained unclear if Mr. Gilani himself was shot. Some witnesses said his clothes were bloodstained as he was dragged by the kidnappers into their vehicle. |
| Two of Mr. Gilani’s brothers immediately arrived at the scene. Ali Musa Gilani, who is running for a seat in Parliament against the former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, warned that unless his brother was set free by evening, he would not allow voting to be held in his constituency. | |
| Teary-eyed and sobbing, Ali Musa Gilani said, “I want my brother back.” | |
| Ali Qadri Gilani, the eldest brother, who is also running for a national assembly seat, criticized the decision by the country’s election commission and Supreme Court to withdraw security details. | Ali Qadri Gilani, the eldest brother, who is also running for a national assembly seat, criticized the decision by the country’s election commission and Supreme Court to withdraw security details. |
| “We were not allowed to keep security guards,” he said in an interview with private television networks. “The result is in front of you.” | |
| While the brothers exhibited an emotional response, their father urged party workers in the country to continue with the campaign. | |
| “Our protest will continue,” he said, speaking to reporters in Multan. | |
| “Those who want to disrupt the elections can be behind the kidnapping,” he said, in an oblique reference to the Taliban. | “Those who want to disrupt the elections can be behind the kidnapping,” he said, in an oblique reference to the Taliban. |
| Thursday is the last day of campaigning before voters in Pakistan go to the polls on Saturday. | Thursday is the last day of campaigning before voters in Pakistan go to the polls on Saturday. |