In PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – a political candidate was killed while campaigning on Wednesday, raising concerns about militant attacks and the upcoming general elections set for Feb. 8. Malik Kaleem Ullah, an independent candidate for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly, was one of three people killed in the attack. The police chief reported that Ullah was campaigning door to door when he was attacked.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack that killed Ullah and two others. Another candidate, Mir Aslam Buledi, from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) National Assembly, was also injured in an armed attack on the same day in a separate region of the country.
The South Asian nation, plagued by political and economic issues, has faced several election delays. Some politicians have proposed further delaying the elections due to security concerns and harsh winter conditions in northern areas.
Islamist militants, seeking to overthrow the government and impose strict Islamic law, have increased attacks since ending a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of the candidates and the general population leading up to the elections.
Media coverage has emphasized the impact of these attacks and the potential risks to the political stability of the region.
Reporting from Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar, and Saleem Ahmed in Quetta, with editing by William Maclean.
