Bomb blasts tore through two campaign events Tuesday in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 18 people, authorities said, as attacks ahead of Saturday's national election continued against liberal politicians.
About 100 people have been killed since April in violence against candidates and party supporters, according to media tallies. Some experts say the election has turned out to be the bloodiest in the country's history.
The bombings this week also have sent a message that militants will spare no one involved in the democratic process, which they condemn as a violation of Islamic tenets. Victims now include supporters of a prominent rightwing cleric and parliamentarian, Fazlur Rehman, whose party has sought favor with extremists over the years but also joined coalitions with secular parties.