KARACHI, Oct 8: In a month-long campaign for the general elections-2002, four people including a policeman lost their lives, dozens were injured while the police registered 21 cases and arrested 53 political activists for their alleged involvement in poll-related clashes in the metropolis.

Police sources said 30 clashes between activists of rival parties were reported to the police, who reached the spot and controlled the situation.

Of the 30 incidents, the police registered 20 FIRs at different police stations in the city and arrested 49 political activists. Of them, 29 belonged to the MMA, 20 to the PPP and four to MQM-H in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

According to the police, nine clashes were reported between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Sunni Tehrik activists, eight between Muttahida and Mohajir Qaumi Movement, five between Muttahida and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, two between Muttahida and Pakistan People’s Party, two between PPP and the Sunni Tehrik, and one each between Muttahida and Jamat-i-Islami; Muttahida and MMA, PPP(SB) and Awami National Party, and PPP and the police.

However, the police did not disclose the affiliation of those arrested.

The sources said eight cases were reported in Hyderabad region while one took place in Sukkur region, while no arrest of political activists had, so far, been made.

In Karachi, the most recent poll-related killing was reported in Liaquatabad on Sunday. Body of Mohammad Akram Niazi, 28, sector chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was found in a narrow lane behind House No. 122, Block 1, Talib Colony, Liaquatabad.

MQM coordination committee leader Nasreen Jalil, speaking at a press conference later, said the victim was returning home after attending a party meeting when he was kidnapped and later his body was found.

A recent FIR was lodged in Orangi in connection with the poll-related incident by a PPP candidate Dr Shakir Alam contesting from the area. He claimed that he narrowly escaped the firing.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement alleged that the workers of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal were resorting to high-handed tactics during their election campaign.

Unlike the past, there have been several instances, where workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement were beaten-up, their election offices attacked and ransacked. The Muttahida also claimed that several of its workers were picked up and tortured by MMA men.

The police even arrested a UC Nazim for allegedly leading an attack at an MQM election office in Buffer Zone, recently. Twenty-nine workers of MMA besides the Nazim were held for ransacking the election office on Sept 27.

In another violent incident, activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement were beaten up by the workers of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) at the election office of MQM in F.B Area Block-10, during the night of Sept 12. An FIR 112/2002 was lodged by the MQM against the MMA workers in the Gulberg police station subsequently.

Some minor clashes between the workers of the two parties took place in some parts of North Karachi, Liaquatabad and Gulistan-i-Jauhar and most of the clashes took place over installation of election symbols.

During elections-2002, the Mohajir Qaumi Movement is apparently following a more aggressive election campaign by displaying posters and installing its election symbols (candle) even in the areas dominated by their arch rivals. However, so far most serious confrontation between the two occurred in Orangi Town where a policeman was killed.

Besides, several other political workers were injured when the two parties exchanged fire in Orangi Town on Sept 29. During the firing, a bullet hit an unknown pedestrian in his mid-50s as he was crossing the road. He was later identified as office superintendent of Special Branch Sindh Police Ghulam Husain. Six Muttahida workers were injured, identified as Aftab Ali Khan, aged 22 and Shafqat, 22, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Aqil, Mohammad Ali and Qasim.

In Gulshan-i-Iqbal, candidates contesting for the national assembly seats from NA-252 lodged FIRs against workers of rival parties at station on Sept 18.

A candidate of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Dr Fahimuddin lodged an FIR 786/2002 against five workers of Mohajir Qaumi Movement for removing party flags and banners and manhandling rival party workers.

A similar FIR 787/2002 was lodged by Nazeer Ibrahim contesting from the same constituency and a candidate of Mohajir Qaumi Movement against the workers of the rival party.

Apart from Orangi Town incident, no major confrontation between the Muttahida and MQM-H has yet taken place.

A rare show of tolerance was witnessed between the two parties in Nazimabad No 7, recently when the rallies taken out by the two passed through the locality peacefully.

The PML (N) candidate, Sardar Rahim, alleged that 28 of his workers were rounded up by the police during the night of Sept 28 and 29, from an election office in Mehmoodabad.

They were kept in different lock-ups of Jamshad Quarters, Mehmoodabad.

Earlier, a clash between the workers of Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) and PML (N) occurred in Mehmoodabad.

What can be termed as the first election related fatality that occurred on Sept 10, was the death of PPP (SB) man and injuries to other SB men in a firing incident in Muslimabad, Manghopir.

An activist of Muttahida, who was injured on Sept 15 in Lyari early Monday morning on Sept 16, died on Tuesday at the Civil Hospital.

Identified as Farooq Sarbazi, he was critically wounded in Chakiwara and was rushed to the Civil Hospital where he was operated upon but died.