One person was killed and eight others were injured in violent incidents between political parties during the by-election of NA-240 constitu...
One person was killed and eight others were injured in violent incidents between political parties during the by-election of NA-240 constituency in Landhi area of Karachi.
Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed confirmed that the deceased Saifuddin Kaleem was brought dead from Landhi area to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center with a bullet wound to the head.
He added that 18-year-old Waleed Qudratullah was shot in the knee, while four others were identified as Muhammad Idrees (30), Khalid Chauhan (42), Salman Aslam (35) and Zeeshan Waris (age 34) and others who suffered head and other injuries.
The Pak Sarzamin Party (PSP) has claimed that senior party leaders and the election office were attacked during the by-elections.
In a series of tweets, the PSP accused Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan (TLP) workers of firing on party chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal during a media talk, adding that party central leaders were also injured.
In another tweet, the PSP said the party's central election office was attacked while Mustafa Kamal and party president Anis Qaim Khani were in the office.
The PSP also accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) of carrying out a deadly attack on Mustafa Kamal in Landhi.
A statement issued by the PSP spokesperson accused the MQM (Pakistan), election officials and the presiding officer of collusion in rigging the by-elections.
The PSP spokesperson said that the MQM would no longer be allowed to win by stamping and tampering.
Meanwhile, MQM (Pakistan) MPA Khawaja Izharul Hassan claimed that there were more than 10 incidents of violence against his party workers during the by-elections.
Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan while talking in this regard said that in this situation how is clean and transparent local body election possible? Activists carrying weapons should be brought to book.
He said that both the parties involved MQM in the quarrel, the quarrel started between PSP and TLP workers, in the quarrel between the two parties MQM workers were tortured, the quarrel was between PSP and Tehreek-e-Libek. Had happened
He said that the gunmen were roaming freely, only our workers were targeted, TLP workers also opened fire on the polling station, 8 of our workers were injured in the firing.
On the other hand, the Edhi Foundation claimed that vehicles of our organization were also fired upon, however, no volunteer was injured in the firing.
A spokesman for the Karachi Police said in a statement that the incident of firing on the vehicle of Anis Qaimkhani was being verified and the area police was investigating the incident. ۔
He said that dissemination of information / news which could lead to chaos without verification should be avoided and Karachi Police was taking all possible steps to protect the lives and property of the people.
It may be recalled that the incident took place at a time when polling for NA-240 by-election was going on in Karachi.
This seat of NA-240 constituency was vacated by the death of Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan of MQM Pakistan.
A total of 25 candidates were in the fray in the constituency including Muhammad Abu Bakar of MQM Pakistan, Shahzada Shahbaz of TLP, Nasir Rahim of PPP, Shabir Ahmed Qaim Khani of PSP and Syed Rafi of MQM. Independent candidates including Din were included.
It may be recalled that the PML-N had yesterday announced its withdrawal from the electoral process in favor of the PPP in the constituency.
Notice of Chief Minister Sindh and Election Commissioner
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, taking note of the violent incidents during the by-polls in NA-240, has directed Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon not to allow anyone to take the law into his own hands.
He said that the electoral environment should be kept peaceful, all political parties should remain peaceful and show responsible attitude.
Sindh Election Commissioner Ijaz Anwar Chauhan also took notice of the incident and spoke to IGP and Chief Secretary Sindh Muhammad Sohail Rajput in this regard.
He asked the IGP and Chief Secretary Sindh to issue directions to the concerned agencies to control the law and order situation in the area and to arrest anyone who tried to disrupt the election process.
Ejaz Anwar Chauhan said that a heavy contingent of police and Rangers should be deployed during the counting process to avoid any untoward incident.
He also directed the District Returning Officer to take stern action against those who tried to disrupt the polling process and no leniency should be shown in this regard.
PTI leader Ali Haider Zaidi said that it was sad to see violence in NA-240, we cannot go back to the politics of violence.
In his tweet, he said that all parties contesting the elections should show patience, once again law enforcement agencies failed to hold peaceful elections and ECP once again showed its incompetence.
He said that the only way to hold peaceful elections was to ensure the presence of Rangers inside and outside the polling stations.
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