HYDERABAD, May 7: Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) president Ayaz Latif Palijo, who is contesting on PS-47, has claimed that he was picked up along with his four body guards by Rangers personnel and handed over to the local police for possessing weapons.

They were let off after the police verified the licences of the weapons they were carrying, he told a press conference at Palijo House in Qasimabad on Tuesday.

Mr Palijo and his guards, Naveed Jarwar, Mustafa Hingorjo and Zahid Babbar, were picked by Rangers at Alamdar Chowk when they were on their way to an election-related meeting organised by a non-governmental organisation. They were taken to the Bhitai Nagar police station and handed over to the SHO, who took their weapons — two repeaters and a pistol — in custody. They were asked to produce licences of the weapons. After due verification, the weapons were returned to them and they were allowed to go free.

SHO Mohammad Nawaz Sarai told Dawn that a vehicle carrying two armed persons, later identifying themselves as the driver and guard of Mr Palijo, was stopped by Rangers men and taken to the police station for verification of their arms licences. Mr Palijo was not travelling in that vehicle, he added. The SHO said both the persons were allowed to go after verification of their arms licences.