12-year-old boy shot dead as MQM and PPP workers clash

As the February 8 general elections draw closer, political workers, especially those affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), are becoming increasingly impatient and intolerant, with the ongoing political violence in Karachi claiming another life late on Friday night.

In the second such incident within a week, a 12-year-old boy fell victim to firing during a clash between workers of political parties in the New Karachi neighbourhood.

On Saturday the police registered a case pertaining to the clash between workers of the MQM-P and the PPP in New Karachi that left the minor boy dead and three others wounded.

The case has been filed under the sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and attempted murder. FIR No. 75/24 has been filed on the complaint of PPP worker Yusuf against MQM-P workers.

The clash between MQM-P and PPP workers had occurred in Sector 11-J of New Karachi, where the workers resorted to firing, and also used sticks and batons to attack each other.

Following the incident, a heavy contingent of law enforcers arrived on the scene and took 34 workers of the parties involved into custody. Police said that activists of the two parties had a face-off during electioneering in the area.

Officials said that supporters of both parties initially got into an exchange of heated words before the argument escalated into a violent clash that proved fatal for the minor.

According to witnesses, the cause of the altercation between the two political parties was the hoisting of their flags. They said MQM-P workers were hoisting their flags when PPP workers tried to stop them.

Initially, they added, there was a verbal exchange between the two sides, but the issue escalated to the extent that sticks and batons were used, and then firearms as well.

The 12-year-old boy identified as Rehman, son of Shumail, had been critically wounded as he had suffered a bullet to the head. He was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injury.

“My brother had no link with any party,” said the boy’s brother, “and he was just standing when suddenly a clash occurred and a bullet hit him.” a

‘Red alerts issued’

During the inauguration ceremony of a command & control room at the Ferozabad police station on Saturday, Karachi police chief Addl IGP Khadim Hussain Rind claimed before the media that in comparison to the previous elections, the situation is better this time.

“We are working to control the situation,” said Rind. “Unfortunately, a child lost his life yesterday, and arrests have been made in connection with it.”

He said that an operation was conducted the previous night as well, adding that the police have discussed the matter with the election commission. He also said that threats have been identified, and high alerts and red alerts have been issued.

‘Malicious elements’

Addressing a press conference, MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that generally, across the entire province, the PPP’s flags are being raised while the MQM-P’s flags are being taken down.

“We have informed the election commission about this matter,” said Hassan. “Our corner meeting was also held in New Karachi Sector 11-J. Members of the PPP attempted to disrupt our meeting there.”

He said: “The righteous candidate Abdul Basit immediately lodged a complaint at the relevant police station. As a result of firing by malicious elements, 12-year-old Abdul Rehman became a victim of gunfire. The complainant has been detained by the police.”

He added: “This is our city, not interior Sindh where your rule applies. Can we expect that in the future, complaints will not be filed against the Sindh police? Will the DIG and the SSP respond to this?”

Contrary to this, PPP Karachi President Saeed Ghani said that political activists are being openly attacked in Karachi and citizens are being harassed again, adding that those elements are involved in these acts who are seeing their imminent defeat in the elections.

As always, in the days leading up to the elections in the city, incidents of political violence between various political parties, especially the MQM-P and the PPP, have been escalating. These clashes occur on a daily basis in different areas.

However, the clash in New Karachi resulted in the loss of a life. Earlier, on January 29, a clash between the MQM-P and the PPP had occurred in Nazimabad, where the MQM-P’s unit incharge Faraz Ahmed had suffered gunshot wounds. The MQM-P had filed a police complaint against PPP workers over the incident.

‘Situation may worsen’

Karachi PPP President Saeed Ghani also addressed a press conference and denied the PPP’s involvement in the violent incident.

He expressed apprehension that there could be an attempt to unleash more violence in Karachi for the sake of political interests in the wake of the general elections.

He lamented what he said the recent brazen attacks by miscreants on the peaceful political and poll campaign activities of the PPP in the city.

He said the MQM-P had become seriously upset on sensing the rising popularity graph of the PPP in Karachi.

He added that three activists of the PPP had been injured and multiple vehicles torched in recent acts of violence in the city.

The Karachi PPP president lamented that the authorities did not take any action to control law and order in the city after recent acts of violence. He expressed apprehension that the lawlessness could be further aggravated on the day of the general elections.

He recalled that Karachi in the past had witnessed horrific law and order situations that claimed the lives of thousands of youth.

He said the PPP’s representatives had met the Sindh interim chief minister earlier in the day with the message that nobody should be allowed to take the law into his hands.

The PPP would never resort to violence in Karachi after it sensed that it would emerge victorious in the upcoming general elections in the city, Ghani said, adding that it was the desire of the PPP that the elections were conducted in a peaceful environment in Karachi.

He reiterated the PPP’s demand for a judicial probe into the recent act of violence in Nazimabad. He said the law and order situation would have remained under control in the city had a thorough investigation been conducted into the Nazimabad violence.