PML-N worker killed, many injured in clashes between rival activists

A PML-N worker was killed and several others injured in clashes between rival political activists of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at different polling stations during the by-polls in Punjab on Sunday.
Police have also arrested many activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the charges of physically abusing the rival party workers at the polling station in Lahore, reported 24News HD TV Channel.
According to the details, a 60-year-old PML-N worker named Muhammad Yusuf was killed in a manhandling with the PTI supporters at the polling station in the village Kot Naju in PP-54 Narowal.
Reportedly, he was killed by a hit of a stick on his head and died before reaching the hospital in Narowal city. Two accused allegedly involved in the killing have been arrested while raids are being conducted to arrest the third accused.
The channel reported that the polling at the Polling Station Kot Naju in PP-54 Narowal has been stopped after the clash between rival political parties activists.
Reportedly, the tension has been increased at the polling station as aerial firing is continied from both side while a heavy contingent of police reached the spot to control the situation.
In a separate incident, a polling process of the by-election on the provincial seat PP-139 Ferozwala (Lahore) has been halted after a strong clash and trade of bullets between the ruling PML-N and PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Sunday.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, an incident of firing occurred at Polling Station No 56 in Nizampura in which at least three people were injured and shifted to the hospital for medical treatment.
The sources said the clash started between the workers of both rival political parties over the allegations of rigging. Charged workers of both parties physically abused each other and freely used weapons carrying with them.
Reportedly, though the local police deputed at the polling station did not interfere to stop the fight resultantly, three people were injured in the straight firing.
Separately, a clash between PML-N and PTI workers was also witnessed at Polling Station No 171 in NA-119 Lahore by-polls where the police arrested the PTI workers for manhandling the opponents.
In the Polling Station Mohib Shah of the PP-266 in Sadiqabad, the polling process was halted after a scuffle between the workers of two rival political parties. During the scuffle, the channel reproted that the windows of a car were broken.
A heavy contingent of police reached the polling station and arrested the workers of both the parties involved in scuffling at the polling station where Section 144 was already imposed.

In Bhakkar, the security has been tightened in the city as the by-election was being held here in the provincial constituency PP-93 Bhakkar.
The Bhakkar administration has closed the main highway Dajal check post connecting Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) and Punjab as well as the movement of boats has also been stopped on the river channels and ports.
As per the channel report, only ambulances, vehicles carrying vegetables and medicines is allowed to pass through the Dajal check post. Resultantly, huge queues of public transport and trucks were formed.
District Police Officer (DPO) Bhakkar Muhammad Naveed said that the Dajal check post was closed due to the by-election held in PP-93 constituency.
The DPO Bhakkar further said that the vehicles coming from KP are not allowed to enter Punjab as his aim is to maintain law and order in the province.

Armed men kidnap polling staff in PB-50, Qila Abdullah

Armed men have kidnapped the polling staff deputed at several polling stations of PB-50, Qila Abdullah, Balochistan during voting in the constituency in connection with a by-election on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

Members of the polling staff have been kidnapped from polling station number 33, set up at Girls’ Primary School; polling station number 72 set up at Government Primary School; polling station number 96 set up at Government High School Norak; polling station number 97 set up at Rural Health Center Norak, and polling station number 99 set up at Government High School Norak.

On the other hand, talking to the media, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) candidate from the constituency Mirwais Khan Achakzai has demanded the immediate recovery of the polling staff.

He has called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure free, fair and transparent election.   

Polling resumes after clash in PP-290 DG Khan

The halted polling process at two polling stations in PP-290 Dera Ghazi Khan by-elections resumed after one hour’s disruption on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The polling process was partially affected due to a minor scuffle at the two polling stations.

The voting had to be halted due to an altercation between supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and independent candidates at Shero polling station.

On the other hand, polling process at the Jukhar Imam Shah polling station was also stopped for a while after a dispute between two groups of the Laskani community erupted.

However, after bringing the situation under control, the polling process was resumed.

Bomb targets cops on election duty in Bajaur

A bomb was exploded near a police vehicle deployed for election duty in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

Luckily, all the policemen on board the vehicle escaped any injuries. The police van was slightly damaged in the blast.

The bomb explosion occurred when the police vehicle was passing by in Darra area of Tehsil Salarzai in Bajaur district.

Reporters Rao Dilshad Hussain, Amir Shahzad, Shahid Khan, Essa Tareen. Yasser Arafat, Atif Dogar, Aslam Baloch and Farhan Iqbal