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                         Blast Mars Pakistani Elections

   by VOA News

   A bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Karachi has killed at least
   eight people, as the nation holds a historic parliamentary election
   Saturday.
   The blast took place at a political campaign office for the Awami
   National Party, one of the parties targeted by the Taliban for
   election-related attacks. More than 100 people have been killed and
   scores wounded since late April in such attacks, as the Taliban sought
   to undermine the election. Taliban members have warned of suicide
   attacks on election day.
   Meanwhile, Pakistani voters are turning out for parliamentary elections
   that will mark the first time in the country's history that a civilian
   government has finished its term and handed over power to another
   civilian government.
   Winners of seats in Saturday's parliamentary elections will be tasked
   with leading a country suffering from periodic power failures, a poor
   economy, a Taliban insurgency and political corruption.
   Bombings on Friday killed at least four people and wounded 18 others.
   The four died in a blast near political party offices in North
   Waziristan - a Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold.  Thirteen people were
   wounded.
   A blast in the southwestern part of the country wounded five more
   people outside an office being used by the Pakistan People's Party.
   No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings.
   Pakistan's military says it is deploying thousands of troops to polling
   stations and counting centers.
   The recent bombings of two rallies of a leading Islamic party, Jamiat
   Ulema-e-Islam, strengthened views the Taliban is opposed to democracy
   and is targeting anyone taking part in the elections.
   On Thursday, the last day of campaigning, militants kidnapped Ali
   Haider Gilani in Punjab province.   The son of former prime minister
   Yousuf Raza Gilani is running for a provincial assembly seat.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pakistan-elections/1659066.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pakistan-elections/1659066.html