Gilani's son's abduction

That political power comes with a price anywhere in the world. But in Pakistan that price is rather heavy, sometimes paid in the currency of life and limb. No surprises then the polls in six constituencies were put off because a contestant in each was eliminated from the scene by violent means. It's our earnest hope and profound prayer that the polling to PP-200 where Ali Haider Gilani is a candidate doesn't get postponed consequent to such a tragic eventuality. Haider, the youngest son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and a PPP ticket-holder, was abducted by armed persons in a neighbourhood of Multan city as he was about to leave the place where he addressed a corner gathering. The incident took place in the presence of many but as to what actually happened there are varying accounts, except that while Ali Haider's secretary died on the spot and his guard expired in the hospital later on, the candidate was abducted in a car. The question whether he was injured has no clear answer, except for the solitary statement that some blood was spotted on his clothes. Then all that is the routine on the part of local police was done. Red alert was sounded, exit points sealed and some suspects arrested. But the kidnappers remain untraced. As usual the police are working on some lines; and in this these are three: that Ali Haider Gilani fell victim to a personal enmity; that it was kidnapping for ransom; and that Taliban are involved. According to a media report, the TTP has denied its hand in the abduction, though the precision with which the attack was carried out amply suggests involvement of a well-organised terrorist outfit possibly one of proscribed groups also known as Punjabi Taliban who are said to have honed the art of perpetrating sectarian violence. However it is all in the realm of conjectures and probabilities and would remain so till the truth comes out. Quite expectedly, the initial reaction of the Gilani family to the forced abduction of their scion was highly emotional. Ali Haider's brothers threatened not to let polling be held in the city. But the father, Yousuf Raza Gilani, took no time to restore balance to the situation by saying the elections would take place as scheduled. "Elections are a national obligation, we will not boycott them," he told reporters. Who knows the whole incident was the opponents' game-plan not to have the election which they cannot be won by them. The Gilanis were receiving threats and had hired a few guards on their own. Obviously that was not enough in face of a determined enemy. Rightly then they are saying that the required government security was missing. That the Punjab government could not provide adequate security to some 5,000 candidates - the Chief Minister Najam Sethi may say so, but he has yet to explain why not when the caretakers keep insisting that their sole task is to hold "free, fair and peaceful" elections.