Political parties’ clash leaves two injured

Conflict took place between three rival political groups.

MIRPUR: Two political activists were injured during two separate armed clashes which took place in the wake of the ongoing electioneering in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

According to the Kotli Police Station Deputy Commissioner (DC) Chaudhry Muhammad Fareed, the clashes took place between three rival political groups in Nikayal town of Kotli, which resulted in one of the men getting seriously injured, while the other received minor injuries.

During the first incident, workers and supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and Muslim Conference (MC) clashed at Parawah Chowk in Nikayal when a group of MC activists were passing through the chowk, where the PML-N office is located. The clash resulted in an exchange of fire between the two parties, during which one man was severely injured.

A similar incident took place after a short while between PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party-AJK at the same place, when activists belonging to both parties were passing through the chowk. He said party workers were embroiled in scuffles, and raised slogans against each other, which resulted in crossfire, during which one political activist was injured.

The DC said additional police personnel were “immediately” dispatched to bring the situation under control. He added that cases have been registered against those involved in the incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2011.