Three Taliban bomb attacks in northwest Pakistan killed at least nine people at political campaign offices Sunday, less than two weeks ahead of the country's parliamentary elections.
In the month leading up to the May 11th elections, a wave of political violence has killed more than 50 people, with most of the attacks targeting candidates from secular parties opposed to the Taliban.
Police say the campaign office of Syed Noor Akbar, who is running as an independent candidate for a national assembly seat, was attacked Sunday on the outskirts of Kohat city, leaving at least five people dead and wounding 10 others.
A second attack was aimed at the offices of another independent candidate, Nasir Khan Afridi, in Peshawar, where at least three people died and 12 others were wounded.
The third attack occurred in Swabi where Awami National Party candidate Ameer Rehman was holding a rally. One person died and five others suffered injuries.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks, as well as two blasts Saturday against secular parties in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi. At least three people died in those attacks.
The May 11 elections will be the first time a Pakistani civilian government has served a full term and passed government leadership on to a new civilian administration.
In the month leading up to the May 11th elections, a wave of political violence has killed more than 50 people, with most of the attacks targeting candidates from secular parties opposed to the Taliban.
Police say the campaign office of Syed Noor Akbar, who is running as an independent candidate for a national assembly seat, was attacked Sunday on the outskirts of Kohat city, leaving at least five people dead and wounding 10 others.
A second attack was aimed at the offices of another independent candidate, Nasir Khan Afridi, in Peshawar, where at least three people died and 12 others were wounded.
The third attack occurred in Swabi where Awami National Party candidate Ameer Rehman was holding a rally. One person died and five others suffered injuries.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks, as well as two blasts Saturday against secular parties in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi. At least three people died in those attacks.
The May 11 elections will be the first time a Pakistani civilian government has served a full term and passed government leadership on to a new civilian administration.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
