Unidentified gunmen opened fire on supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party ahead of a key by-election, killing three people, police said Tuesday. The shooting happened Monday in Fateh Jang, a town about 35 miles southwest of Islamabad, where Pakistan's prime minister-designate Shaukat Aziz is contesting a by-election on Wednesday. Fateh Jang was also the scene of a failed assassination attempt on Aziz last month. Aziz escaped unharmed, but nine people were killed when a bomber blew himself up. Police said the gunmen had pulled up their car next to supporters of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, who were distributing campaign pamphlets, and began firing. At least three people died. No additional people were wounded.
Civil, well-aimed -reasoned discourse... |
Police didn't know who was behind the violence, said Mohammed Yasin, a local police official. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack, but Raza Rabbani, a senior leader of the Pakistan People's Party, blamed Aziz's supporters. "We have no doubt that the supporters of Aziz have killed our people," he said. Meanwhile, police have stepped up security in the town to prevent more violence.
| It wouldn't have made any sense to do it after the assassination attempt on Aziz, would it? |
Aziz, a loyal ally of the President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was nominated by the country's ruling party for the premiership in June after Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned from the post. However, Aziz, who is currently Pakistan's finance minister and a Senator, must first win a seat in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament before becoming prime minister. Aziz is also contesting by-elections in southern Sindh province, where two lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party stepped down to help ensure Aziz wins a seat in the National Assembly. The previous ruling party lawmaker in Fateh Jang also resigned to pave the way for Aziz. Under Pakistani law, candidates can contest more than one National Assembly seat at a time. |