A scion of one of Pakistan's most famous political families has been shot and abducted while canvassing on the last official day of the country's election campaign.
Ali Haider Gilani, son of a former prime minister, was kidnapped in his home district of Multan after unidentified gunmen attacked a gathering of the Pakistan Peoples party (PPP).
Local media reported that one of his aides died in a flurry of gunfire and several others were injured, including Haider, who was reportedly bleeding as he was dragged into a car and whisked away.
The attack on the son of Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified as prime minister last June, has the potential to seriously upset the country's historic election, which is due to take place on Saturday.
The family, who have long enjoyed local influence as shrine custodians, have announced they will boycott the election unless Haider is returned.
Haider was contesting a seat in the Punjab provincial assembly, while three other members of the family, including his two brothers, were contesting seats in the national assembly.
Authorities have long been concerned that an upsurge in violence could suppress turnout.
On Thursday Reuters reported that the Pakistani Taliban's leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, has issued written instructions ordering militants to carry out suicide bombings across the country during polling on Saturday.
"We don't accept the system of infidels which is called democracy," he said in the letter, dated 1 May.
The Gilani family said they had complained to police that they had received death threats from the Taliban but were not given adequate security.
Observers say the Taliban have, through a campaign of violence directed against the three main secular parties, intimidated all parties and become a political force with national influence for the first time.
Punjab province, however, has been largely spared the violence directed against candidates elsewhere in the country.
