Candidate in Pakistan's Elections Killed

Taliban had targeted victim's party for attacks

A candidate in the Pakistani elections set for next month was gunned down in the southern city of Hyderabad on Thursday, in the latest of the violent incidents that have marred the campaign.

Fakhrul Islam was running for the Sindh provincial parliament in Hyderabad, representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The MQM is one of three parties identified by the Pakistani Taliban last month in a message threatening attacks on secular groups.

"This is very worrying for us. He wasn't a prominent politician. He didn't have a big profile," said Izharul Hassan, a senior MQM official who was a minister in the outgoing Sindh provincial government. "The way he was hit, shot three or four times, it is clear that he was targeted and they meant to kill him."