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Suicide Bomber Kills 1, Wounds Election Candidate In Pakistan


PAKISTAN -- A Pakistani man rides his bicycle past an election poster Sunni Muslim hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) party depicting a female candidate in black scarf not showing her face, who is contesting for a parliamentary seat in th
PAKISTAN -- A Pakistani man rides his bicycle past an election poster Sunni Muslim hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) party depicting a female candidate in black scarf not showing her face, who is contesting for a parliamentary seat in th

By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal

Police in Pakistan say a suicide bombing in the country's northwest has killed the driver of an election candidate while wounding the candidate in the latest violence related to the July 25 national elections in the country.

Five others, including two policemen, were also injured in the July 22 blast in the city of Dera Ismail Khan.

Police officer Zahoor Afridi said a suicide bomber targeted the vehicle of Ikramullah Gandapur, who is running for a parliament seat from opposition leader Imran Khan's party.

The attack happened near Gandapur’s residence, the police said.

Gandapur's brother Israr was killed in a suicide attack three years ago.

Separately, the convoy of another candidate Akram Durrani, came under fire in the northwestern town of Bannu.

Police officials told RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal that militant fired shots at Durrani's vehicle. He escaped unhurt but at least two people were injured in the attack.

This was the second attack in less than 10 days on Durrani.

On July 13, Durrani’s convoy was attacked when he was on his way to a political rally, killing at least four people, wounding more than 30.

The election campaign has been marred by violence as well as what critics describe as a crackdown on political activists, journalists, and opposition figures.

With reporting by AP and AFP

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