KARAK: Stick-wielding men forcibly closed the election office of a dissident of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Javaid Iqbal Khattak, who is contesting as an independent from PK-85, Karak-I, and forced his supporters to leave the premises in Banda Daud Shah tehsil here on Tuesday.

Witnesses said over a dozen people carrying sticks entered the poll office of Javaid Iqbal, forced his supporters present there to leave premises and closed it. A video footage of the attack went viral on the social media later in the day.

The attackers also set on fire the flags of the candidate and hurled abuses and threats at his supporters. They also chanted slogans in favour of another independent candidate from the same constituency, retired Col Mohammad Khan.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the JUI-F dissident leader condemned the incident and termed it pre-poll rigging and open violation of the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Supporters of the independent candidate said that such provoking acts would definitely lead to violence and it would make the political scene of the district unpleasant. They demanded that more security should be provided for electoral candidates and poll offices in the area.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018