Rawalpindi: At least four people have been shot dead ahead of a rally due to be attended by former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Members of the PML-N party say they were fired upon near the town of Rawalpindi.

They claim the attack was carried out by members of the rival PML-Q party, which backs President Musharraf.

A spokesman for the PML-N party said Nawaz Sharif was around 2km from the shootings and was safe.