SAHIWAL: The police registered a terror case on Friday against an independent candidate and 13 other nominated people besides 60 unidentified people for allegedly attacking an election rally of PML-N candidate for PP-200 Malik Arshad on Thursday in village 94/9-6.

Yousafwala station house officer (SHO) Amir Farooq said the case was registered on the complaint of Ihsan Khan, of Chak 94/9-L under sections 324, 341, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorist Act 1997.

The nominated suspects include Asad Baloch, former Sahiwal city nazim and candidate for PP-200, and his supporters.

The SHO said Zafar and Ali Raza had been arrested, while Mr Baloch and Sadiq Khan Baloch secured pre-arrest bail.

DPO Faisal Shahzad said the terror section was included because the complainant alleged that his political rally was obstructed by armed men.

Reports said the Gadhi clan, in the village is divided. One group is led by Zafar Gadhi and supports Mr Baloch, and the other, led by Imran Gadhi, supports Mr Arshad.

On Thursday, there was an incident of violence where both groups exchanged words and ended up in scuffles.

The police claimed all nominated people were carrying weapons.

Mr Baloch told Dawn the police showed “highhandedness” to his voters and supporters.

He questioned if he was not present at the site, why he was nominated in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2024