One dead as violence mars Karachi’s NA-240 by-election

KARACHI: Voting continued uninterrupted till 5pm on the seat that fell vacant after the death of MQM-P MNA Muhammad Ali Khan this year on April 19.

As many as 25 candidates, including MQM-P’s Abu Bakr, Mohajir Qaumi Movement’s Rafi Uddin Faisal, Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) Shabbir Qaimkhani, PPP’s Nasir-Lodhi, and TLP’s Kashif Qadri were contesting elections for the seat. PTI and JI boycotted the by-elections.

TLP killed party member, alleges PSP

Talking to a private news channel, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal confirmed that the deceased person was a member of his party and several others were in critical condition.

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“He was our party member, who was aged. He resided in Baldia. The TLP people attacked us and killed my party member,” the PSP chairman said, rebutting the claims of the TLP that they were attacked.

Kamal said that had the PSP used weapons, no one would be able to open fire at their offices and return safely. “They (TLP) are spewing lies. I appeal to the authorities that arrest them or give us weapons.”

Ruling out that his party resorted to violence, Kamal said his party members’ “lives were very precious to him” and that he wanted action to be taken against TLP for allegedly gunning down his party member.

Kamal was present at the time that the firing incident took place during the by-polls — which witnessed low-voter turnout amid the violent clashes.