February 9th 6:30PM

Islamabad—As we drove back towards the hotel from an assignment tonight things seemed different. With the election nearing, now 9 days away, you can feel the tension rising in the atmosphere. Our hotel sits in the heart of Islamabad. From my window I can see the Parliament building, the President’s residence, the prime minister’s house, the Supreme Court, and the diplomatic enclave. Nearing the hotel the streets we used to travel were now blocked by police, standing behind blockades and barbed wire. Along the road soldiers stood guard. It seemed the military and police presence was on every corner. Typically their presence is known but not this number. All around you could hear the sound of sirens filling the darkness. People were moving in all directions along the streets. Finally arriving at the hotel, I could see hundreds of police lining the street. More people passed by our car heading in the opposite direction, many of them covering their nose and mouths. I knew something was happening. Just then we received word there was a big explosion in Peshawar. I jumped out of the car and headed in the direction of all the activity near the hotel. The streets seemed to be chaotic. There were people everywhere, passing ambulances, and the sound of police announcing something in Urdu on loudspeakers. Not long after getting to all the activity, everything was ending. A thick cloud of teargas hung in the night air. My nose began to burn. My eyes watered. Disappointed that I had missed such an event, I walked back to the hotel. As I passed though security I noticed a stack of gas masks sitting near the lobby. It seems as though everyone’s thoughts that the elections were going to bring more violence was true. I want to be mad about missing everything tonight, but have a strong feeling that this is just the beginning.