Some of Peshawar's candidates up, close, and personal

Published May 9, 2013
Nighat Orakzai, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate for the upcoming election, talks to Reuters journalists at her house and campaign headquarters in Peshawar.
Nighat Orakzai, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate for the upcoming election, talks to Reuters journalists at her house and campaign headquarters in Peshawar.
Nighat Orakzai attends a clandestine campaign rally on a roof of a building.
Nighat Orakzai attends a clandestine campaign rally on a roof of a building.
Women attend a clandestine campaign rally by PPP female candidates for the upcoming election, on a roof of a building.
Women attend a clandestine campaign rally by PPP female candidates for the upcoming election, on a roof of a building.
Haroon Bilour (R), an Awami National Party (ANP) candidate for the upcoming elections, meets constituents seeking help for problems at his house in Peshawar.
Haroon Bilour (R), an Awami National Party (ANP) candidate for the upcoming elections, meets constituents seeking help for problems at his house in Peshawar.
A man sings to entertain visitors who have come to seek help at the house of Haroon Bilour.
A man sings to entertain visitors who have come to seek help at the house of Haroon Bilour.
Mian Hussain of the ANP and candidate for the upcoming elections, sits at his desk during an interview with Reuters at his party office in Peshawar. One of Pakistan's most high-profile anti-Taliban politicians, Hussain hasn't been to a single public event since campaigning for the May 11 election kicked off. A fiery orator who once electrified big rallies, he now makes short speeches by telephone to small huddles of supporters meeting in secret. For the spokesman of the ANP, it's just too dangerous to go out.
Mian Hussain of the ANP and candidate for the upcoming elections, sits at his desk during an interview with Reuters at his party office in Peshawar. One of Pakistan's most high-profile anti-Taliban politicians, Hussain hasn't been to a single public event since campaigning for the May 11 election kicked off. A fiery orator who once electrified big rallies, he now makes short speeches by telephone to small huddles of supporters meeting in secret. For the spokesman of the ANP, it's just too dangerous to go out.
Haroon Bilour (R) meets with constituents seeking help for problems at his house.
Haroon Bilour (R) meets with constituents seeking help for problems at his house.

Since April, the Pakistani Taliban have killed more than 70 people in attacks targeting three major political parties - the Awami National Party (ANP), the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), preventing many of their most prominent candidates from openly campaigning. The Taliban say they are targeting “secular” parties and that elections only “serve the interests of infidels and enemies of Islam”. - Photos and text by Reuters

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