Musharraf orders police to shoot anyone disrupting elections

Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf said troops would shoot anyone attempting to disrupt next month’s elections.

However, a spasm of violence yesterday underscored the challenges facing the nation.

Troops and militants clashed near the Afghan border, leaving 30 dead. Separately, a bomb killed at least nine people and wounded 52 in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi.

President Musharraf said the polls would not be delayed again and expressed confidence they would be peaceful.

“I have said to the rangers and army shoot anyone who tries to do anything of this sort (disrupting the polls),” he said.

Western nations hope the poll will help bring stability to Pakistan as it battles rising attacks by Islamic militants.