Armed Forces took PPP, GDA candidates into ‘protective custody’ as clashes erupt in Shikarpur

SHIKARPUR: Followed by an armed clash between two groups of Brohi and Shaikh tribe, injuring at least four people in Shikarpur, armed forces personnel on Wednesday took Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate Agha Taimoor Khan Pathan into an alleged protective custody to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Consequently, the injured people were rushed to the Sukkur Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, a cracker blast occurred in front of a polling station established in the Government Boys High School in Madeji town for PS-09 and NA-199, constituency of Ghari Yasin-Lakhi Ghulam Shah.

The voting process was resumed after the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Irfan Samoon rushed to the spot and inspected the area. In his talk to the media, he said that ‘unknown’ suspects were spreading fear among the general public of Shikarpur.

On the other hand, eight people sustained critical injuries in a clash between Jatoi and Mahar tribesmen in Nimoro polling station established for PS-08 and NA-198.

Despite such conflicts, the voting process for two national and three provincial assembly seats was completed successfully in Shikarpur.

An independent candidate and former MNA Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Jatoi fought against former provincial minister and PPP candidate Mir Abid Ali Bhayo for NA-198.

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate for NA-199 Ghous Bakhsh Khan Mahar had a stiff contest against Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) candidate Sardar Zulfikar Ali Kamario.

Moreover, PPP candidate for PS-07 (Shikarpur-I) Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh contested against disgruntled PPP leader Agha Taimoor Khan, GDA candidate and others.

Likewise, an independent candidate for PS-08 (Shikarpur-II) Ameer Ali Jatoi was in the race against GDA candidate Shaharyar Mahar and PPP candidate Sardar Moin Khan Pahore. PPP candidate for PS-09 (Shikarpur-III) Agha Siraj Khan Durrani had a stiff competition against PTI candidate Agha Imtiaz Babar and GDA candidate Muzaffar Eissani.

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.