ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen Thursday kidnapped son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani after an attack on an election meeting of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the city of Multan, police and family said.
Ali Haider Gilani, the youngest son of the former prime minister, was taken away by the gunmen in a car after they killed his driver and injured several other people.
Witnesses said that at least four gunmen arrived in two cars and snatched Ali Haider Gilani while firing in the air to keep the people away who were attending the PPP gathering in Farrukh Town of Multan in Punajb province.
No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping yet.
Ali Haider's elder brother Ali Musa Gilani told the media that the elections should be postponed in Multan if his brother was not recovered. He said the PPP will not allow the elections to be held unless his brother is recovered.
He said his party members were neither carrying weapons nor keeping private guards in line with the Election Commission's code of conduct.
"The gunmen came and easily took my brother," he said.
Police sealed all entry and exit points of the city after the incident and also started a search operation, officials said.
Local media has reported that Yusuf Raza Gilani had informed the authorities after receiving death and kidnapping threats from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The Taliban had threatened to attack the PPP, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), which they called the parties with "secular doctrine".
Several attacks on these parties claimed by the TTP have been reported ahead of the elections.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed serious concerns at the kidnapping of Gilani's son and has directed the provincial authorities to step up efforts for his recovery, Presidential spokesman said.
The president also spoke to the former Prime Minister via phone and expressed his concerns.
S China city looks like Venice after heavy downpour
Feedback
RSS
