Two killed as violent clashes mar Sialkot by-poll | The Express Tribune

Despite tall claims of “foolproof” security measure ahead of by-election of Sialkot’s NA-75 constituency by the authorities, two people were killed while several others sustained injuries as clashes between two rival groups broke out on Friday, Express News reported.

Besides NA-75, by-elections also took place today for PP-51 Gujranwala-I, NA-45 Kurram-I and PK-63 Nowshera seats that fell vacant due to the demise of the lawmakers.

A polling station at Ranjhai stop in Daska’s village Gondka turned into a “battlefield” after shooting incidents during the clashes, injuring at least eight people out of which two succumbed to their wounds during treatment in a hospital.

Read More: Polling on four vacant seats in Punjab, KP conludes

One of the deceased, Majid, belonged to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) while the other named Zeeshan was affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), according to Express News report.

Police reached the spot and arrested the culprits. The Punjab IGP also took notice of the incident and sought a report of the incident from the Gujranwala RPO.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident saying those involved “will be arrested as soon as possible and punished strictly according to the law”.

Taking to Twitter, he said he has directed the Punjab IGP for an inquiry over the matter. “Prompt action will be taken against the accused,” he added.

 

Polling for the four vacant seats of the national and provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa concluded on Friday evening.

Authorities had claimed that foolproof security arrangements were made to ensure polling is conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, while speaking to the media in Islamabad, claimed that the PTI candidate’s guard opened fire which resulted in the killings of two voters while four others sustained injuries.

“PTI’s hooligans created chaos and entire provincial administration remained mere spectators,” she added.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif, taking to Twitter, said that PML-N voters “lost patience” and broke down doors of a polling station after being made to wait for hours.

 

In another tweet, she urged her voters to keep their eyes and ears open as the government would use every tactic to “steal” the vote whereas the people had given the mandate in her party’s favour.

“PML-N’s victory is worse than death for them [the government]. You have to stop these thieves at all costs and keep a close eye on them,” she added.

 

This will be updated…