Post date: May 09, 2013 10:40:7 AM
Police say gunmen have kidnapped the son of Yusuf Raza Gilani, former prime minister and stalwart of the outgoing Pakistan People's Party, in violence ahead of the general election.
MULTAN, PAKISTAN (MAY 9, 2013) (GEO TV) - Gunmen kidnapped the son of Yusuf Raza Gilani, former prime minister and stalwart of the outgoing Pakistan People's Party (PPP), as he was headed to a small political gathering on Thursday (May 9), police said.
Ali Haider Gilani's secretary and guard were shot dead in the incident which took place in Multan, the stronghold of Gilani family.An unidentified police office told local media it was "an incident of terrorism".
"At this stage, we cannot say anything. Definitely this is an incident of terrorism. And definitely this is the handiwork of terrorists," he said.
Pakistan's Geo television showed pictures of aggrieved Musa Gilani, another son of former prime minister, with supporters and police on the scene.
Musa said he will not let the elections take place in his area, if he did not get his brother back.
"If we don't get my brother Haider Gilani by this evening, I will not let the election happen in my area. I cannot distribute polling bags since my brother is not here."
No one has claimed responsibility of the abduction.
Since April, the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban have killed more than 100 people in attacks on candidates and rallies, particularly those of secular-leaning parties, in a bid to undermine elections they regard as un-Islamic.