KARACHI: A person was killed after he was shot during the by-election in the NA-240 constituency and several others have been injured as violence marred the polls.
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) officials said that the deceased — Saifullah, whose age was 60 — died when he was brought to the medical facility.
The administration officials said that five injured people were brought to the hospital. Sources at the facility explained that some had gunshot wounds, while others had sustained injuries after being beaten up with sticks.
The incident took place as the political activities heightened in the constituency — which covers areas in Korangi and Landhi — with political parties eyeing to win the NA seat.
The photo collage shows violence and political activities taking place during the NA-240 by-election in Karachi’s Korangi and Landhi areas, on June 16, 2022. — Photos by Zia ur Rehman
Voting continued uninterrupted till 5pm on the seat that fell vacant after the death of MQM-P MNA Muhammad Ali Khan this year on April 19.
As many as 25 candidates, including MQM-P’s Abu Bakr, Mohajir Qaumi Movement’s Rafi Uddin Faisal, Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) Shabbir Qaimkhani, PPP’s Nasir-Lodhi, and TLP’s Kashif Qadri were contesting elections for the seat. PTI and JI boycotted the by-elections.
TLP ‘killed party member’
Talking to Geo News, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal confirmed that the deceased person was a member of his party and several others were in critical condition.
“He was our party member, who was aged. He resided in Baldia. The TLP people attacked us and killed my party member,” the PSP chairman said, rebutting the claims of the TLP that they were attacked.
Kamal said that had the PSP used weapons, no one would be able to open fire at their offices and return safely. “They (TLP) are spewing lies. I appeal to the authorities that arrest them or give us weapons.”
Ruling out that his party resorted to violence, Kamal said his party members’ “lives were very precious to him” and that he wanted action to be taken against TLP for allegedly gunning down his party member.
Kamal was present at the time that the firing incident took place during the by-polls — which witnessed low-voter turnout amid the violent clashes.
‘Thugs’
TLP leader Mufti Ghous Baghdadi, in conversation with Geo News, said that several of his party workers were injured in the clashes as he claimed that “losers” resorted to violence.
“The people who see that their loss is near resort to violence. All this violence took place under the supervision of Anees Kaimkhani and Mustafa Kamal,” he said.
The TLP leader said that the PSP leaders wanted to give an impression that there are no bigger “thugs” than them.
Kaimkhani’s car shot at
In the evening, the vehicle of PSP leader Anis Kaimkhani was fired upon in the Korangi area, but fortunately, the PSP leader was not in the car when it was shot at. The police mobile moving along with Kaimkhani was also fired upon.
Attaullah Tarar, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, has underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between Bahrain’s and Pakistan’s official media organizations. He proposed news sharing between the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) and the associated Press of Pakistan (app) during a meeting with Bahrain’s Minister for Information, Ramadan Bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi, in Riyadh. Attaullah Tarar stated that media delegation exchanges are essential to enhancing media cooperation. According to the information minister, Pakistan and Bahrain have very close fraternal ties that are founded on shared history, religion, and culture. Pakistan’s economy is heading in the right direction, according to Attaullah Tarar. Additionally, he stated that Pakistan offers great prospects for foreign investors to make investments. According to Bahrain’s Information Minister, the country cherishes its relationship with Pakistan. He reaffirmed Bahrain’s determination to further strengthen media cooperation.
During his visit to District Jail Mandi Bahauddin, Member of the National Assembly Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal Bosaal officially opened a number of development projects, including the recently built jail building. Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal Bosaal mna was welcomed at the District Jail by Superintendent Jail Haq Nawaz, Deputy Superintendent Sheikh Arif Nisar, Shahzad Aslam Jaja, and other jail staff. The Jail’s cadre saluted and presented a guard of honor. He treated sick inmates admitted to the hospital, established other development projects, including the recently built jail facility, and toured several barracks, mills, anchorage, juvenile ward, and jail hospital. at addition to planting a sapling at the jail as part of the tree plantation campaign, Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal Bosal MNA expressed gratitude for Superintendent Jail Haq Nawaz’s efforts and offered prayers for the nation’s growth and prosperity.
The ombudsman Punjab Nankana Sahib Region held an awareness seminar at Government Captain Hassan Nawaz Shaheed MC High School. The CEO of the District Education Authority, Shazia Bano, chaired the seminar. Advisor Malik Muhammad Aslam and District Education Officer Secondary Dr. Saima Zafar were among the educators, students, and education officers that attended the session. In his speech to the seminar, Malik Muhammad Aslam stated that people are aware of their rights and that our goal is to eradicate institutional corruption and poor management.Everyone must do their share to improve institutions. The provincial ombudsman’s awareness campaign was deemed beneficial by civil society representatives, educators, and students, who said it provided them with information about the institution’s significance and what to do in the event of a complaint.Teachers and students reaffirmed their commitment to playing their part in raising public knowledge of the ombudsman.