A police mobile van parked by a camp office set up by the MQM for the by-election on the Malir-based PS-127. MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan says their camp was dismantled twice by rival parties. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
MQM’s Waseem Ahmed, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Murtaza Baloch and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Nadeem Memon were among 17 others who contested for the seat which fell vacant after the incumbent MQM MPA switched over to the Pak Sarzameen Party.
Six vehicles - five buses and a truck - were set on fire by unidentified men across the city late Wednesday night and after the polling ended.
MQM and MQM-H activists scuffled throughout the day.
The clashes began with the commencement of polling in the morning. The MQM accused MQM-H activists of tearing its electioneering posters apart at different sites in Malir, adding that the rival party dismantled some of its camps set up near the polling stations.
While talking to the media during a visit to the constituency, MQM coordination committee member Khawaja Izharul Hassan alleged that party workers, supporters and voters were being harassed by their opponents. Mentioning the case of the camp outside Monotechnic Institute in Urdu Nagar, he said that armed ‘goons’ of MQM-H attacked it twice. “Still, they are roaming freely flashing their weapons,” he said. He criticised the Sindh government for manipulating an ‘administrative’ rigging by making transfers and postings after the issuance of the election schedule and creating problems for parties other than the PPP.
The Express Tribune tried to contact MQM-H information secretary Khalid Hameed but he did not respond. However, a local leader of the party denied MQM’s allegations. He said that MQM attacked his party workers and was now trying to pretend that it was oppressed. MQM-H had fielded Sanaullah Qureshi as its candidate. However, Qureshi contested as an independent candidate with a cassette as his election symbol.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Najmi Alam, who supervised the election on behalf of his party, said that the polling remained smooth in the constituency except for some polling stations where clashes were reported.
A local leader of PTI, Tariq Baloch, said that the people of the constituency were more attracted towards the Imran Khan-led party, hoping for change.
Maintaining peace
Commenting on the overall situation, Malir SSP Rao Anwar said that 85 out of 134 polling stations fell within his jurisdiction. “Six people have been arrested by the Malir police for creating disturbances and 13 motorcycles have been confiscated,” he claimed. “They will be dealt with according to the law.”
The Korangi police also arrested three people on similar charges while the Rangers nabbed a woman from Memon Goth for allegedly casting a fake vote.
Security was on high alert in the constituency. Contingents of Rangers and police were deployed in and outside the polling stations. Rangers director-general Major-General Bilal Akbar also visited the area to review the security arrangements and spoke to voters.
Low turnout
Polling officers reported that the turnout remained as low as 25% due to most residents being at their jobs during polling hours, and due to the violence that had ensued since Wednesday night.
According to the polling officer of polling booth number 50, Ameena Naz, only 25 votes were cast out of the 100 registered votes until 2pm. Meanwhile, the presiding officer, Rashid Ahmed Khan, said that even though turnout remained low due to the law and order situation, ‘traditional’ voters will keep coming and the number of voters is increasing with passing time.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2016.
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