Election day violence: several cases filed

KOTRI:

Two cases have been registered against four people, including the secretary of an independent candidate who sustained injuries in rioting during polling on Thursday.

A viral video of Rizwan Jatoi, the secretary of independent candidate Malik Genghis Khan, showed him injured outside the Boys Primary School polling station in Labour Colony. Reports suggest that he was assaulted by political party workers, leading to his hospitalisation.

One case has been registered at the Kotri Site police station, charging individuals with inciting a riot by forcibly closing the polling station and opening fire. Councilor Sawan Barfat, representing PP Bholari Ward No 7, reported the incident.

The FIR states that Barfat was assisting female supporters in voting when a group in a car attempted to disrupt the polling process, firing shots in the process. Abu Bakar Baloch, a Karachi resident, was apprehended with weapons, while his accomplices, including Rizwan Jatoi, Anwar Teeri, and Deedar Baghio, managed to escape.

Read: Four dead, dozens injured in PTI-police clash

The seized weapons and the vehicle have been handed over to police.

In another development, Site police have registered a case based on the complaint of ASI Manzoor Hussain Mastoi. According to Mastoi, he was on patrolling duty during the election when he received information about the disturbance at the polling station. The accused surrendered their weapons and Land Cruiser SUV. They, along with Abu Bakr Baloch, were taken to the police station for further investigation.

Separately, a case has been filed at the Jamshoro police station against unidentified persons who opened fire on the election office. Pakistan Markazi Muslim League's leader, Ejaz Ali Khoso, reported the incident, stating that he was participating in the election at PS 79 when armed men targeted his office. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Police have launched an investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th 2024.