|
|
|
| 29 March 2004 | Monday | 07 Safar 1425 |
4 killed in Punjab LB by-election violence
FAISALABAD/ ISLAMABAD, March 28: Four people, including an ASI and a lawyer, were killed and several others injured in clashes during the local government by-elections in Punjab on Sunday.
Arshad Khayal advocate, a former municipal councillor, whose brother Saeed Pervez was a candidate for the post of UC-222 Nazim in Faisalabad, died during a clash with supporters of his rival candidate. Police said the lawyer, who was injured in the brawl, died of heart attack.
In Sheikhupura, an ASI was shot dead while a voter suffered serious injuries at a polling station in Nawan Pind (Chak No.78) in the Safdarabad police station area.
Sources said when the counting was in progress, a candidate for the Nazim's slot, Sarfraz Khan, accompanied by 10 others barged into the Nawan Pind polling station and tried to take away ballot boxes. When ASI Taj Din intercepted them, they resorted to firing. The ASI died on the spot while Abid, who had come to cast his vote, received bullet injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital.
In Gujrat, two gunmen of a PML-Q candidate were shot at in Hajiwala area allegedly by a PPP-backed candidate and his supporters. One of the gunmen, Arshad Pathan, died, while Falak Sher was shifted to a nearby health centre. Karrianwala police have booked PPP's Abdul Hameed and his 11 supporters in the case.
One person was killed and six were injured in various clashes in Sargodha district. According to sources, Maqbool Hussain was killed in Nabi Shah Bala. In Sialkot, four people sustained serious injuries in shootouts at various polling stations between rival groups.
According to Election Commission sources in Islamabad, incidents of violence were also reported from Sindh, while situation in the NWFP and Balochistan remained peaceful.
Polling remained suspended for several hours in some places in Punjab and Sindh due to untoward incidents. Police intervened and resorted to baton-charge at many places to bring the situation under control, the sources said.
The EC will announce official results on March 31. The sources said polling remained suspended for some hours at various places in Jhelum due to clashes between the supports of candidates. Reports of clashes between various groups were also received from many parts of Karachi and interior Sindh.
|
|
|
|