HYDERABAD, May 13: Armed activists of the PPP allegedly roughed up and injured the Hyderabad bureau chief of daily Awami Awaz, Imtiaz Chandio, and his brother Irshad Chandio at Fateh Chowk on Monday. They were also held hostage for one hour.

Imtiaz Chandio told Dawn that he and his brother were covering a sit-in organised by the PPP against the alleged rigging by the MQM candidate for NA-219, when the PPP activists prevented him from covering the protest and used harsh language and beat them up.

He said that when he complained to PPP leaders Ghulam Rasool Kalhoro and Liaquat Shahani present at the sit-in, they took no action and expressed their helplessness.

He said they were held hostage for one hour and allowed to leave the place after some photographers and cameramen intervened.