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Report: Pakistan elections 2013

Slideshow: Pakistan’s general election

Pakistan’s 2013 election has been a dramatic affair – more than 100 killed in poilitical violence, candidate Imran Khan hospitalised by an accident at a rally, a former prime minister’s son kidnapped. Here’s a look at some of the major aspects of the campaign in Lahore.

Reuters/Fayaz Aziz
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Lahore is the capital of Punjab province, which dominates Pakistan’s political, military and business life.

Slideshow: Pakistan’s general election

It is also homebase for Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), who hopes to become the country’s next prime minister.

The campaign here has been largely peaceful, leading some secular parties to accuse Sharif of appealing to the Taliban not to launch attacks in Punjab because he is right-wing and an ally to the religious parties.

Lahore is the city where former national cricket captain Imran Khan fell from a forklift truck during an election rally and ended up in hospital.

Suppoters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice) flocked to the hospital gates to wish him well.

Meanwhile, the People’s Party (PPP) has been keeping a relatively low profile. They say it’s because of the Taliban threat to attack secular parties. Some commentators say they are reluctant to defend their record leading the government for the last five years.

The political battle has been tough in Lahore and the rest of Punjab. Here are some sightings in the city and some Lahoris with their views.

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