Gunmen kidnapped the son of a former Pakistani prime minister yesterday as a letter from the leader of the Pakistani Taleban revealed plans for suicide bomb attacks on election day.
Pakistani Taleban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, in a message to the group’s spokesman, outlined plans for the attacks, including suicide blasts, in all four of the country’s provinces on polling day tomorrow.
“We don’t accept the system of infidels which is called democracy,” Mehsud said in the letter, dated May 1.
Gunmen kidnapped the son of Yousaf Raza Gilani, former prime minister and stalwart of the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), as he headed for a small political gathering in Multan.
Ali Haider Gilani’s secretary and guard were shot dead in the attack.
“If we don’t get my brother by this evening I will not let the elections happen in my area,” said his brother, Musa, in televised comments.
Taleban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan denied responsibility in a telephone call to Reuters.
The military said yesterday it would send tens of thousands of troops to polling stations and counting centers to prevent the Taleban from disrupting the election.
An army spokesman said 300,000 security officials had been deployed in Punjab, the most populous province.
Gilani son abducted; Taleban threat looms
