Next Indian Elections

(17 Feb 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of street with election posters
2. Mid of street scene, traffic
3. Close up of newspapers, headline reading (English) "PPP rally bombed; 40 dead"
4. Mid of newsstand
5. Mid of man buying news paper
6. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Ali, no last name given, Vox pop:
"In this case, I think this action was not done by any muslim, because a muslim cannot kill another muslim."
7. Mid of man reading newspaper
8. Mid of food stall
9. Close up of newspaper in Urdu
10. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Muhammad Ibrahim, Vox pop:
"This attack of PPP worker show the failure of the government and this is also a move to stop the election."
11. Mid of troops patrolling the street of Lahore
STORYLINE
People in Lahore reacted on Sunday to a suicide bombing which left 37 dead and 90 wounded in Parachinar, a town in a volatile tribal area bordering Afghanistan.
The suicide bomber on Saturday rammed a car packed with explosives into a crowd following a campaign rally in Pakistan's northwest, underlining the threat of Islamic militant violence ahead of Monday's crucial parliamentary election.
A second car bombing near a military checkpoint killed two.
"I think this action was not done by any muslim, because a muslim cannot kill another muslim," a man told AP Television in the northeastern city of Lahore.
Bodies were seen lying in pools of blood following the deadly blast in Parachinar, a town in a volatile tribal area bordering Afghanistan, one witness said.
Most of the victims appeared to be supporters of the opposition Pakistan People's Party, formerly headed by the slain Benazir Bhutto.
They had gathered at the home of Syed Riaz Hussain, an independent candidate backed by the PPP, after the rally, said an administrative official in the Kurram area.
Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said 37 people were killed and more than 90 wounded when a suicide bomber drove into a crowd as they were preparing to celebrate with a meal.
Asked who could be behind the bombing, he said those who want to derail the election process.
The injured poured into a nearby hospital, many in critical condition with severe burn wounds, said a doctor.
Monday's elections are considered crucial to restoring democracy in Pakistan after eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup.
In addition to rising political discontent following decisions in the last year to impose emergency rule and purge the judiciary, he is battling a rising
Islamic militancy, especially in the northwest.
A string of deadly suicide bombings - including the December 27th assassination of Bhutto, a two-time former prime minister - have left hundreds dead and discouraged many candidates from holding large rallies.
Voters too say they may stay at home on election day.
Recent opinion surveys show the opposition poised for a landslide victory on Monday.
Although Musharraf is not up for re-election, the retired army general could face impeachment if the opposition wins a two-thirds majority in
the legislature, as many predict.
His critics are worried he will rig the vote, but Musharraf insisted Saturday the elections would be free, fair and - hopefully - without violence.

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