In the troubled North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, a bomb exploded on Saturday during an election rally, allegedly the work of a suicide bomber. So far, 25 are reported killed and many more injured. With polling day just around the corner, this shows conclusively that Musharraf’s promise to deliver a “peaceful” election was nothing more than a prayer in the wind.
The rally where the bomb went off was organised by the Awami National Party, (ANP) which is strong in the North West Frontier Province. A secular group, it looks for support among the Pashtoun tribals of the area and competes against Islamist coteries. (Ironically, the bomb went off during the ritual recitation of verses from the Koran).
It’s going to be ugly. Not just in the NWFP, but also in the relatively poor Province of Balochistan, where militancy is rife too.
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