KARACHI, Feb 10: Three supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were wounded and a PPP candidate was manhandled during the NA-250 by-poll on Saturday.

Hundreds of PPP supporters, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assemby, Nisar Khuhro, later surrounded the Saddar police station for the release of three of the party workers, booked and arrested for shooting and wounding the MQM workers at a polling station. The protesters disrupted traffic on main Sharea Faisal for a few minutes before they dispersed peacefully.

Capital City Police Officer Azhar Ali Faqooqui told Dawn that the police were directed to take stern action in case any party or group tried to block any road.

The CCPO said around 400 PPP supporters reached Saddar police station demanding the release of three party workers. “The situation was brought under control as the TPO negotiated with the protesters with the DIG Operations supervision,” he added.

The CCPO said three men were shot and wounded at a polling station and the PPP candidate, Nafees Siddiqui was manhandled during a scuffle at a polling station. “The manhandling incident was recorded in the station diary of Arambagh police and a case could be lodged only if the complainant reports the matter to police,” he added.

Saddar police said three PPP workers opened fire on rival candidate supporters at a polling station in Aisha Bawany School on Sharea Faisal. They said Saddam Hussain, 18, Raees Ahmed, 20, and Ishtiaq Ahmed, 55, sustained bullet wounds on their legs.

The police said Imtiaz Khattak, Asad Shahzad and Waqar Shah were arrested red-handed by the police who seized two pistols from them on the spot.

Later, PPP workers, led by their leader Nisar Khuhro, gathered in front of the police station and chanted slogans for the release of their party workers. They also blocked the Sharea Faisal for a few minutes.

Allegations and counter-allegations of highhandedness, hooliganism and rigging were levelled by the MQM and the PPP against each other.

Saddar TPO Tahir Naveed told Dawn that an additional force of 1,233 police personnel was deployed in 58 polling stations in Saddar Town.

An election camp set up near Saint Anthony’s Church by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was burnt in the jurisdiction of Frere police area. The incident occurred around 4.30pm.

The camp belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The police said a short-circuit caused the fire.