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WORLD NEWS Saturday 14 July 2018

132 die in Pakistan election violence ahead of Sharif return

By ZAHEER BABAR military, which has ruled the
ABDUL SATTAR country directly or indirectly
Associated Press for most of its 71-year histo-
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — ry, saying Pakistan now has
The deadliest attacks in a “state above the state.”
Pakistan’s troubled elec- During his term in office,
tion campaign killed at Sharif criticized the mili-
least 132 people, includ- tary’s involvement in civil-
ing a candidate, on Friday ian affairs and its efforts in
just before the arrest of dis- fighting extremists.
graced former Prime Min- Pakistani and internation-
ister Nawaz Sharif upon his al rights groups have ac-
return to the country. cused the military of seek-
In the southwestern prov- ing to maintain its influence
ince of Baluchistan, a sui- in Pakistani politics by keep-
cide bomber killed 128 ing Sharif out of power. The
people, including a politi- military denied the accusa-
cian running for a provin- tions saying their assistance
cial legislature. Four others in carrying out the elections
died in a strike in Pakistan’s was requested by Paki-
northwest, spreading panic stan’s Election Commis-
in the country. sion. The army will deploy
The attacks came hours 350,000 security personnel
before Sharif returned to polling stations through-
from London along with his out the country on election
daughter Maryam to face People hold an injured supporter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after a clash with police in day. Underscoring the se-
a 10-year prison sentence Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, July 13, 2018. curity threat, were Friday’s
on corruption charges, an- Associated Press bombings the first of which
ti-corruption officials said. for the election on the Balu- Sharif arrived in the eastern positioned at the roadside killed four people in the
Maryam Sharif faces seven chistan Awami Party ticket. city of Lahore from London ready to close off main northwest near the election
years in jail. Raisani is the brother of the where he was visiting his ail- boulevards should crowds rally of a senior politician
He was taken into cus- former Baluchistan chief ing wife when a Pakistani start to gather. from an Islamist party.
tody to serve his sentence minister, Aslam Raisani. court convicted him and In a video message Friday The explosion targeted
however he is expected Caretaker Home Minis- his daughter of corruption. reportedly from aboard his candidate Akram Khan
to appeal and seek bail. It ter Agha Umar Bungalzai Sharif’s son-in-law is cur- aircraft en route to Paki- Durrani, who escaped un-
wasn’t clear when his ap- told The Associated Press rently serving his one-year stan, Sharif said he was re- hurt, and wounded 20 peo-
peal would be filed but he another 300 people were prison sentence on the turning knowing he would ple, said local police chief
has until Monday. wounded in Friday’s bomb- same charge, which stems be taken directly to prison. Rashid Khan.
In the southern town of ing. The U.S. State Depart- from the purchase of luxury Sharif has been banned Durrani is running in the July
Mastung, candidate Siraj ment in a statement strong- apartments in Britain that from participating in poli- 25 vote against popular for-
Raisani and 127 others died ly condemned this week’s the court said were bought tics, and his brother Shah- mer lawmaker Imran Khan.
when a suicide bomb- attacks on political candi- with illegally acquired mon- baz Sharif now heads his He is a candidate of Mut-
er blew himself up amid dates and their supporters ey. Ahead of his return, po- Pakistan Muslim League tahida Majlis-e-Amal, an
scores of supporters who in Pakistan. lice swept through Lahore, and is campaigning for re- election alliance of radical
had gathered at a rally. “These attacks are cow- arresting scores of Sharif’s election on July 25. religious groups.
The Islamic State group ardly attempts to deprive Pakistan Muslim League In a televised appeal to The attacks came days af-
claimed responsibility for the Pakistani people of their party workers to prevent supporters from London ter a suicide bomber dis-
the attack in a statement democratic rights,” it said. them from greeting him at earlier this week, Sharif said patched by the Pakistani
carried on its Aamaq news “We will continue to stand the airport. he was not afraid of prison Taliban killed secular politi-
agency. with the people of Pakistan Barbed wire was strung and asked people to vote cian Haroon Ahmed Bilour
The group gave no reason and the broader South Asia across some roads leading for his party. He also used and 20 others at his rally
for the bombing that killed region in their fight against to the Lahore airport on Fri- the opportunity to again in the northwestern city of
Raisani, who was running terrorism.” Meanwhile, day and barricades were criticize Pakistan’s powerful Peshawar.q