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Ballot Papers Burned Amid Violent Clash at Karachi Election Commission Office
haos erupted at Karachi's Regional Election Commission office as masked men stole and burned ballot papers. PTI and PPP supporters accuse each other of stealing laptops and tampering with records.
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-11
Ballot Papers Burned Amid Violent Clash at Karachi Election Commission Office

Masked men stormed the Regional Election Commission office in Karachi and fled with a sack of ballot papers, which they later set on fire. The incident occurred during the re-counting process for National Assembly Constituency NA-231, leading to accusations between the workers of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

 

Eyewitnesses reported that the situation quickly spiraled out of control as tensions between the two political parties escalated. The office of the Regional Election Commission was vandalized, and a heated exchange took place between PPP candidate Abdul Hakeem Baloch and police officials present at the scene.

 

Deputy Mayor Karachi and PPP leader Salman Murad were also present during the incident, which saw both parties pointing fingers at each other for the violence and destruction.

 

Accusations Fly

PTI leader Haleem Adil Shaikh accused PPP supporters of orchestrating the attack, alleging that they burned crucial election records. "The ballot box and other important documents were destroyed. Our candidate Advocate Khalid Mehmood was tortured, and my laptop was stolen by PPP workers," Shaikh claimed.

 

He further added, "This attack was carried out due to PPP’s fear of losing the election. The police were present but did nothing to stop this illegal activity."

 

Waleed Ahmed, son of independent candidate Khalid Mehmood, also shared a similar story of violence, stating, "As soon as the recounting began, an employee from inside the office unlocked the doors, after which I was assaulted. My laptop and mobile phone were also taken."

 

The atmosphere in the office remained tense, with accusations of political manipulation and misconduct from both sides.

 

Vandalism and Political Fallout

The Regional Election Commissioner’s office sustained significant damage during the attack, and authorities are now investigating the incident. Both PTI and PPP have lodged formal complaints, accusing each other of inciting violence and attempting to disrupt the recounting process.

 

Tehreek-e-Insaf members insist that the attack was a deliberate attempt by PPP to sabotage the election results, as their candidate faces a tough battle for the NA-231 seat. Meanwhile, PPP representatives maintain that they had no involvement in the attack and have accused PTI of creating chaos to discredit the election process.

 

Election Tensions Mount

This incident is yet another reminder of the ongoing political instability in Karachi. Violent clashes between party workers have become increasingly common, particularly in tightly contested constituencies like NA-231. The event comes amid rising concerns over election transparency, with both parties fiercely accusing one another of rigging and corruption.

 

As investigations into the incident unfold, Karachi’s political landscape continues to be marked by uncertainty and unrest. The election commission has yet to release an official statement regarding the destruction of the ballot papers or confirm when the recounting process will resume.

 
Tagged:

ElectionViolence

KarachiElectionCrisis

BallotBurning

NA231
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