Pakistan Election Rally Violence

Supporters attend a campaign rally of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who leads one of Pakistan's major dynastic political groups, the Pakistan People's Party. Pakistan goes to the polls on February 8.

Pakistan's election commission announced an urgent meeting of security officials after a candidate was shot dead and several others wounded in separate attacks a week before the country goes to the polls.

Elections in the South Asian nation are often marred by violence, with candidates and rallies targeted by militant groups as well as over personal vendettas.

Rehan Zeb Khan, standing as an independent after failing to get a ticket for former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was shot dead in his car after leaving a stump gathering in the former tribal district of Bajaur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The killing of Rehan Zeb is a targeted killing aimed at creating chaos during the elections," district police officer Kashif Zulfiqar said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan told the media that it would meet with government and intelligence officials to discuss the violence.

"In view of the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Election Commission has convened a meeting on February 1," it said.

Authorities had previously announced that thousands of paramilitary troops would be deployed in the days leading up to the February 8 polls.

Also two candidates -- one standing for the national assembly, the other for a provincial seat -- were attacked with grenades in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta.

A PPP candidate was also targeted with grenades at his home near Buleda, by the Iranian border, but no one was harmed in the attack.

Police said at least four people were killed by a bomb blast near a PTI rally in Quetta.