ISLAMABAD: Polling in Pakistan got off to a violent start on Monday with a candidate shot dead in Lahore and a polling station in the Swat Valley near the Afghan border blown up by militants.
The dead man was identified as Ashif Ashraf, a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Nine of his supporters were injured in the attack.
In another incident, militants blew up a polling station in Shakardara district of Swat Valley early on Monday.
Pakistan is electing a new National Assembly, or parliament, and four provincial assemblies.
