NAROWAL: Police have registered a case against 271 workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for allegedly holding polling station staff hostage and attacking police personnel during the PP-52 Sialkot IX by-election.

According to the first information report, 271 PTI workers - 21 nominated and 250 unidentified - have been charged with storming the polling station at Government Girls High School, Sahuwala, taking the staff hostage, and forcibly removing ballot boxes, ballot papers, and other election materials.

The FIR, filed on the complaint of Sambrial Station House Officer Inspector Irshad Ahmed, said on June 1 at 6:15pm., he received information from the sector in-charge and rushed to the polling station with his team. He claimed that PTI workers had been asked repeatedly to leave the premises and return the stolen materials, but they refused.

Inspector Ahmed said the PTI workers attacked the police with iron rods, stones, sticks, and poles, injuring three policemen Ali Ahmed, Naveed Ali and Rohil Mushtaq. The injured officials were taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Sambrial, in a critical condition.

He alleged that PTI workers opened fire on the police team, forcing them to take cover behind walls and return fire for their own protection. The attackers also smashed the windows of police vans and vehicles used for polling staff transport.

Following the violent incident, the protesters fled the scene.

The FIR has been registered under sections 324, 353, 440, 393, and 148/149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

District Police Officer Sialkot Faisal Shahzad told Dawn that special police teams have been formed to arrest the suspects and efforts are underway to nab them soon.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025