- Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks in the run-up to the election
- A NACTA official told a Senate committee that six leading candidates are in the crosshairs of terrorist groups
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked authorities to provide extra security to candidates running in the July 25 general election.
This followed a presentation on Saturday by the head of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Dr. Suleman Ahmad, to ECP officials on the security situation in the country and threats to candidates.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks in the run-up to the election. The authorities have named politicians whose lives are said to be in danger.
The ECP on Saturday said the election will take place as scheduled and campaigning nationwide will continue.
A NACTA official told a Senate committee that six leading candidates are in the crosshairs of terrorist groups seeking to disrupt the election process.
The six candidates are Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan; Asfandyar Wali and Ameer Haider Hoti of the Awami National Party; Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party; Akram Khan Durrani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl; and Talha Saeed of Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek.
Last week, there was a botched attempt on Durrani’s life when his convoy was attacked in Bannu. Two suicide bombings killed politicians who were not on the aforementioned list.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari canceled his forthcoming public rallies due to the surge in violence.