At least seven people were killed and 35 injured in one of the city’s most violent polling days in Wednesday’s by-elections for three National Assembly and one provincial assembly seat.
"Mahmoud! It's an election! Democracy in action!"
"I'll get my gun!" |
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) accused each other of harassment and attacks on rival party workers.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!" |
According to police, supporters of the three parties shot at each other, killing six workers and injuring many. Baldia Town, Liaqatabad, Gulberg, Malir, Saudabad, Khokhrapar and Jaffar Tayyar Society were the city’s most violent areas, where rival party supporters attacked each other with automatic weapons. Hospital sources said most of the dead and injured had multiple bullet wounds. The bodies and the injured were moved to Civil Hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Rival supporters reached the hospitals and surrounded them. Doctors and other hospital staff said they were reluctant to provide details of the dead and injured people due to pressure from party activists. But they confirmed that 35 people had been injured.
| Who was it that said, "You can't make an omelette without breaking legs"? |
The overall turnout was low since the polling started but got some a in the afternoon. Polling at many stations was stopped for some time due to disturbances. MQM-MMA clashes left three MMA and three MQM workers dead in Baldia Town, Liaqatabad and Federal B Area. DIG Tariq Jamil said police had intensified security in the area and the situation was under control.
| "Yeah, hell. They're dead. Nothin' to worry about now... Duck!" |
Authorities also confirmed that three cars and two motorcycles were burned in various parts of Karachi. The MMA on Wednesday demanded the government cancel by-poll results and hold new elections, saying the MQM had attacked its workers and killed several.
| "Yeah! They brought in ringers! They were better shots than our guys!" |
The MQM, a component of the ruling alliance, on Wednesday swept the by-polls held for three National Assembly and one Sindh Assembly seat in Karachi. The ruling coalition also won the Rahimyar Khan National Assembly seat while results of the Sanghar National Assembly seat were yet to come out. According to unofficial results, MQM’s Abid Ali Umang, Abdul Wasim, Nisar Ahmad Panhor and Yousaf Munir Sheikh won all three National Assembly seats and one Sindh Assembly seat from Karachi. |