Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have been accused of rioting, violence and snatching of ballot papers during the second phase of local elections in Karachi, officials and party leaders confirmed on Sunday.
Three leaders of the former ruling party have also been arrested by the police throughout the day, while a case has been registered against PTI Member of Provincial Assembly Sindh (MPA) Adeel Ahmed.
The DC staff of Korangi registered a case against the PTI MLA for stealing ballot paper from the polling booth staff late on Sunday night. After the arrest, Ahmed was arrested and taken to Shah Faisal Colony police station.
Apart from this, Amjad Afridi, PTI’s nominated candidate for UC-13 Vice Chairman, was also detained from Baldia Town for possession of weapons.
Police claimed that stolen ballot papers were also recovered from Amjad along with firearms. Police also accused Amjad of assaulting the presiding officer (PO) at the polling station and snatching the ballot book from him.
Defending the arrested candidates, PTI MPA Syed Afridi asserted that the PTI leaders are being arrested unjustifiably. He insisted that Amjad Afridi was trying to show evidence of rigging to the police.
Despite a boycott by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and high uncertainty, the long-delayed second phase of local body elections took place on Sunday. The security situation across the country remained largely peaceful and the polling process continued unhindered at several stations.
However, earlier today, Gulshan Mimar police arrested PTI MPA Rabistan Khan for fighting outside the polling booth.
PPP’s UC chairman nominee for UC 12, Hilal Saeed, was allegedly tortured and hospitalized following a fight between two political parties, PPP and PTI.
After the fighting started, political workers of both the parties reached the polling station in large numbers and the situation worsened. After the incident, the police took control of the situation and took Rabistan into custody.
