LG polls: Two PTI leaders arrested in Karachi

KARACHI: Two leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were arrested in Karachi for allegedly possessing a weapon and ballot papers as vote count is underway in second phase of local government (LG) elections, ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to details, a PTI leader – named Amjad Afridi – was arrested in Karachi for “waving weapon and possessing ballot book”. The police have also shared the video of Amjad Afridi’s arrest.

In a statement, the police said the PTI leader threatened the polling staff and interfered in official work. “He [Afridi] also exhibited weapons and was possessing ballot books,” the police added.

Meanwhile, another PTI MPA – Adeel Ahmed – was also arrested from Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony for ‘snatching’ ballot papers from polling staff. Adeel Ahmed was shifted to Shah Faisal police station.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Rabistan Khan was detained after a scuffle broke out between workers of his party and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Maymar area.

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.

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.