LG polls: PTI MPA detained after scuffle in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Rabistan Khan has been detained after a scuffle broke out between workers of his party and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Maymar area, ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to details, a scuffle broke out between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Maymar area.

A PPP candidate, named Bilal Rehmani, for Union Council (UC) 12 Chairman – son of MNA Shahida Rehmani – was allegedly beaten.

In a video statement, Hilal Rehmani said that he and his associates were attacked by PTI workers when they reached the polling station. “The PTI workers were beating us despite being stopped by the police,” he added.

The police and Rangers reached the spot and dispersed the political workers, detaining PTI MPA Rabistan Khan. He was transferred to the Gulshan-e-Maymar police station. Meanwhile, Rabistan Khan claimed that the PPP workers stole his phone.

The police also shifted the injured PPP candidate to hospital for medical treatment. In a video, MNA Shahida Rehmani can be seen protecting her son.

It is pertinent to mention here that the counting of votes was underway after polling ended in the second phase of local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the polling started at 8 am and continued till 5 pm without any breaks.

The polling process remained slow, and voters present inside polling stations were allowed to cast their votes beyond the 5pm deadline.

The LG polls are taking place in seven districts of Karachi and nine districts of the Hyderabad division. Strict security measures have been put in place to ensure fair and transparent elections in both divisions.

Nearly 8,000 polling stations declared sensitive

Nearly 8,000 polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’ in 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad.

In Karachi, as many as 3,415 polling stations have been classified as sensitive, 1,496 as highly sensitive and 79 as normal.