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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A series of violent attacks at political rallies, killing nearly 160 people this week, worries the nation about security for the upcoming national elections, with some politicians blaming the Pakistani government for not to do enough to protect Saturday, bloody images of one of the attacks – a bombing that occurred Friday in an election rally that left 132 dead and 500 wounded in southwestern Baluchistan – were broadcast by television channels and social media. in the 2013 national elections that were also marked by suicide bombings that killed dozens
Violence pushed the government to proclaim Sunday national mourning day, while the leader of one of the three main parties of the country was Pakistan. People's Party – announced that he would suspend his campaign activities for two days out of respect for the families of the victims.
"What would they think of me? Gather rallies and chant slogans?" Said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was shot dead at a police station. political rally in 2007. "Other political leaders can do it, but sorry I can not do it."
With the tensions already high in the July 25 elections, Pakistan's leading newspapers and political commentators have called the national army to strengthen its anti-terrorist efforts. "Elections are a public activity requiring a guarantee of public security," Dawn said in an editorial that urged the state to embark on several measures of security, including providing candidates with the security of the government. "This is a bad indication of the health of this election if the land campaign is repressed or suspended by force." [19659002] Attacks seem to thwart elections that pits former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan Pakistan Justice Movement Imran Khan for control of the National Assembly in what could spell the fall of the 39, one of the main family political dynasties of the country.
But the targets varied
In Balochistan, near the Afghan border, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing at a rally held by the Baluchistan party Awami, considered pro-military. Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, candidate for the provincial legislature in Mastung District, was among those killed.
Earlier Friday, four people were killed in an attack in southern Pakistan, in the city of Bannu, near a rally organized in Akram. Khan Durrani, leader of the conservative Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam party that supports the Pakistani Taliban.
Durrani, candidate for the National Assembly, was not injured in the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
And in Peshawar on Tuesday, 21 people died in a suicide bombing perpetrated by the Pakistani Taliban at a rally organized by the Awami National Liberal Party for Haroom Bilour, a candidate for the provincial legislature. Bilour was among the dead.
Ayaz Amir, a former member of the National Assembly who is now a political badyst in Islamabad, said the government should restrict major political meetings only after the elections.
and gatherings are taking place, it is very difficult to ensure the safety of everyone, "he said. "It's easy for terrorists to strike, and it looks like the terrorists were waiting for the election campaign."
Others have called for a united front against terrorist attacks in the political turmoil that already exists on Sharif's corruption case and his return Friday. a 10-year prison sentence after he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were found guilty of illegally hiding their money in apartments in London and other offshore properties
"To get rid of these remnants of terror, security agencies and also political parties, "said Ali Zafar, Minister of Information for the interim government set up after Sharif was stripped of his role as prime minister. ;last year.
Lahore police indicted Sharif and other members of his party for inciting violence, following skirmishes between security forces and his supporters during the war. a rally organized the arrival of the London Sharif plane
The younger brother of the former prime minister said that the party would fight against these accusations and would try to have it released Sharif and his daughter, while they face charges of corruption. 19659002] "We will opt for all the legal options to defend Nawaz Sharif and his daughter," said Shahbaz Sharif, the party's president, calling on supporters to hold peaceful protests on behalf of his brother and niece.
Ijaz Khattak According to the Peshawar badyst, the military was too distracted by the Sharif family scandal, to the detriment of public security for others. "Security arrangements are not enough, but the government is not focusing on this issue." . "The state has been busy countering the problem with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and using every means to prevent it."
Moeed Yusuf, vice president of the Asia Center of the United States Institute for Peace the popular belief among Pakistani badysts that this year's elections would be safer than they did. were in 2013, especially after the army announced that it planned to send 371,000 soldiers to polling stations on Election Day
. last attack and therefore the security forces must be much more vigilant and active, "said Yusuf." They are scattered, making it very difficult to do what is necessary to counter terrorist attacks by July 25 "
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Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report.
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