KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: While the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to issue a notice to Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal over an attack on a polling station during the by-poll in NA-240, police have registered four cases against him and Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi and arrested 250 workers of the two parties under terror and other charges after the Thursday’s violent clashes.

The violence during the by-elections in Landhi and Korangi claimed the life of a PSP worker, whom the police described as a passer-by, and injuries to many others.

The funeral prayer of slain PSP worker Saifuddin Kaleem, who was shot dead during the violence a day before, was held at Baber Market in Landhi on Friday, which was attended by political leaders and others.

The election commission held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair on Friday.

Slain ‘PSP worker’ laid to rest

He also spoke with the chief minister of Sindh and other officials and said the provincial government was responsible to maintain the law and order.

The commission took strict notice of the violence and ordered the provincial election commissioner to take immediate legal action against all ‘characters involved in these incidents’ and send a report in this regard to the Election Commission. Upon the chief election commissioner’s contact, IG Sindh told him that about 250 people, including private security guards, had been arrested.

Police on Friday registered four cases against Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal and TLP head Saad Rizvi.

Police spokesperson in a statement said four cases had been registered over violence and firing — two cases on the complaints of election commission’s presiding officers (PO) and two on behalf of the state over terrorism and other charges at the Landhi and Korangi police stations.

“Police have detained 258 suspects including some security guards present during the violence,” said the spokesperson.

The Landhi police registered an FIR against PSP and TLP heads and others over killing ‘passerby’ Saifuddin, 65, and injuries to others.

The Landhi police also registered another FIR on complaint of PO Shahid Ali against PSP chief and 50-60 others.

The FIR said around 50-60 workers led by Mustafa Kamal arrived at the polling station in Landhi-6 and beat the election staff and tore apart election material.

Third FIR was registered at Landhi on complaint of PO Ghulam Hashim against 400-500 PSP workers.

The fourth FIR registered at the Korangi police station on behalf of the state said that around 20-25 people armed with sticks arrived at a polling station.

Meanwhile, the ECP on Friday issued schedule for by-election in NA-245 (Karachi), which had fallen vacant after the death of Amir Liaquat Hussain and July 27 was set as the poll day.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2022