HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday postponed polling for the Paretabad town chairman following a brawl between activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party.

PTI leader Khawand Bux Jahejo said that the election for Paretabad town chairman were deliberately postponed. He accused “PPP goons” of assaulting PTI women. He said one of the PPP activists was involved in aerial firing and asked the Hyderabad SSP to take action [against PTI].

He alleged that Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro had ‘bought’ five PTI vice chairmen. He said the PTI enjoyed 17 members’ support in the house of 29 while PPP had support of 11, including five from PTI and one from Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan.

He claimed that even the district returning officer (DRO) and Hyderabad SSP acted as silent spectators during the ‘high drama’.

He said that he and other PTI activists had to leave the polling station after feeling threatened by Jam Khan Shoro and the mayor-elect Kashif Shoro. The ECP postponed the election for Paretabad town chairman and vice chairman, arguing that members did not turn up for voting.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Usama Hafeez was elected as chairman and Mohammad Rehan as vice chairman of the Shah Latifabad town by bagging 26 votes in a house of 29.

Two members remained absent while the seat for transgender person remained vacant.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2023