Four cops, security official martyred in KP attacks

DI KHAN/JHANG/DG KHAN/SUKKUR: Much to the relief of the caretaker government and law-enforcement agencies, polling across the country on Thursday remained largely peaceful with a few incidents of violence reported from some areas, causing deaths and injuries to the law-enforcement agencies’ personnel and people.

In Dera Ismail Khan, four cops were martyred and three others wounded when a police party was attacked in Kulachi town of Dera Ismail Khan district with an improvised explosive device followed by firing that continued for a few minutes. One security official was martyred while a cop and a civilian were wounded in two separate attacks in parts of Tank district on polling day. In Peshawar, firing was reported at a women polling station in Lahori Gate after which two workers of a political party were arrested. Firing was also reported at a polling station in Shahab Khel village near Badaber Peshawar after which security personnel rushed to the spot.

At least 38 people were injured in poll-related clashes in Sukkur and Larkana districts. Two groups at Ali Bakhsh Machhi polling station of NA-206 engaged in a clash, leaving five people injured.

During the arrival of GDA candidate Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi at a polling station, his supporters started raising slogans which led to a clash between the activists of GDA and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), leaving five people injured. Owing to their critical condition, they were shifted to Nawabshah Hospital while others were provided with first aid at Taluka Hospital.

Another clash took place between the PPP and GDA workers at the Girls’ Branch High School polling station in Darya Khan Marri town. GDA workers Abdul Ghaffar Malik and Iftikhar Malik were seriously injured. They were immediately shifted to an area hospital. Another man, identified as Iftikhar alias Tari Malik was injured in the Moro clash. Also, two sons of an independent candidate from NA-198 Mirpur Mathello, Mian Mithu, were injured in a clash. Yet another clash took place between the activists of PPP and GDA in Khairpur – NA-202 and PS-26 – constituencies in the presence of police. The PPP workers allegedly thrashed the cops and locked them in a room. Polling was stopped due to clashes. A large contingent of police reached the polling station and controlled the situation.

Several people were injured in a clash between the workers of PPP and an independent candidate from NA-198 and PS-19 polling stations in Aslam Lashari and Fazil Kolachi in Deharki district Ghotki. Ballot boxes were also stolen by some people. The voting process was stopped at both the polling stations. SSP Ghotki and a contingent of police arrived and controlled the situation.

In Nawabshah, NA-207 constituency, independent candidate Sher Muhammad Rind allegedly pressured and threatened the presiding officer. He is contesting the election against former president Asif Ali Zardari. At Darri Sundhrani polling station in Ghouspur, a clash between PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) candidate left 10 people injured. Rangers and police later controlled the situation. Reports said in the Kandhkot clash between the workers of PPP, JUIF and an independent candidate, 18 people were injured. Turnout remained as low as 36-38 percent at most polling stations.

In Jhang, the supporters of a political party attacked two polling stations in the limits of City and Kotwali police stations in NA-109. Reportedly, ballot papers were also snatched from a polling station in Muslim Nagar. A video that went viral on social media showed some masked men damaging the polling camp of PTI-backed candidate Sheikh Waqas Akram and escaping. The spokesman for the district police said after receiving the news of the attack, a police force led by the DC and DPO arrived and restored the polling process. The police were conducting raids to arrest the accused persons, he added. In Dera Ghazi Khan, some ballot boxes were allegedly snatched from the polling staff in the tribal area of Tuman Buzdar; however, the polling remained smooth in the district. The average turnover was above 50 percent. At some polling stations, polling started a bit late due to mismanagement, while scuffles were also reported in some areas. Long queues were seen in late hours. According to sources, the polling staff of several polling stations was manhandled.