15 injured as celebrations turn violent

Karachi
Five people were arrested and charged by the Rangers for carrying out bogus voting during the NA-246 by-elections, whereas 15 people including four policemen were injured as celebrations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) activists turned violent on Thursday.
The polling process in the constituency largely remained peaceful, however, the Rangers arrested four men and a woman and sentenced two of them, Rehan Ahmed and Majid – arrested for polling votes in favour of the PTI -, for three and six months imprisonment respectively; a fine of Rs5000 was also imposed on them.
Five activists of the MQM were also taken into custody by the law enforcement personnel for being present inside a polling station without authorisation; they were handed over to the police for legal action.
Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar while visiting the constituency reviewed the security arrangement at the Deputy Commissioner Central’s office and issued directives to ensure law and order situation for the entire day.
Sindh Inspector General Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali also visited various polling stations and met with police officials deployed in the area. City police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo said the policemen performed extraordinarily throughout the day and did not let anybody create a law and order situation, however, he disappointingly added that the post-polling incident was indeed uncalled for. “I personally remained in the constituency to look over the matter,” he claimed.
DIG West Feroz Shah, said strict security arrangements were made at polling stations where Rangers and police personnel were deployed in large numbers and added that polling process at each polling station was started off only after the Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) had cleared them.
Around 10,000 security personnel including 7000 policemen, 3000 Rangers officials, Anti-Riot Force, armoured personnel carriers, Quick Response Force and snipers personnel were deployed in the constituency.
Celebrations turn violent
However, following the announcement of MQM candidate’s lead according to the results of a few polling stations, the party activists in a rare manifestation of joy gathered outside the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election office, set up at Karimabad, tearing down the party’s posters, banners and burning down its flags which resulted in a massive clash between both the parties’ activists.
A number of PTI workers remained stuck in the building as a several policemen and Rangers rushed to the area. The MQM activists were baton charged, whereas teargas was also used to disperse the mob.
Rangers and police personnel were pelted with stones which resulted in injuries to four policemen, of which the condition of one was stated to be critical. A cameramen belonging to a private channel and a passersby also sustained injuries.
Several mobsters were arrested and shifted to different police stations in the district Central.
The violence, however, subsided after senior MQM leaders including Faisal Sabzwari, Haider Abbas Rizvi and others persuaded the workers to calm down.