QUETTA: A Pakistani election candidate was shot dead yesterday in an exchange of fire with security forces at a checkpoint in southwestern Baluchistan province, officials said.
Violence has spiked in the nuclear-armed country ahead of national elections on May 11 with at least 61 people killed in attacks on politicians and political parties since April 11, according to an AFP tally.
Abdul Fateh Magsi, running for the regional assembly in Baluchistan as an independent, was killed when his guards exchanged fire with tribal policemen at a check post outside the town of Jhal Magsi, south of the provincial capital Quetta.
“The security forces signalled to Abdul Fateh Magsi and his guards to stop at a check post, but they did not. At this, they exchanged fire and Magsi and his two guards were killed,” Baluchistan home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said.
“Two other guards with Magsi were injured while security forces discovered two rocket launchers in their vehicles and arrested five other members of the convoy.”
District administration chief Saeed Ahmed Imrani said the incident took place before dawn.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it should not be blamed for the security situation.
“Those who are dealing with security should morally first accept their failure and then they better do something about it to provide state protection to life, property and honour of people of Pakistan before it is too late,” the commission said in a statement
AFP
