The Muttaheda Qaumi Movement (MQM) candidate, Saif-ud-Din Khalid, was unofficially declared successful in the by-election for PS 94, while the spate of fresh targeted killings that started on Saturday night claimed 18 more lives on Sunday pushing the death toll to 36.
According to unofficial results, Saif-ud-Din Khalid got 91,572 votes. Riaz Gul, Awami National Party (ANP) candidate, boycotted the election due to "inadequate security measures". However, Riaz Gul of ANP got 270 votes.
Another independent candidate, Yasmeen, got only 189 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after the assassination of MQM MPA Raza Haider. Turnover remained 69 percent. There were total 133,150 registered voters (80,019 males and 53,131 female). Around 86 presiding officers, 287 assistant presiding officers and equal number of polling officers took part in the by-elections.
The polling started at 8:00 am on Sunday amid watertight security in 82 polling stations and ended at 5:00 pm. However, the polling in three stations (26, 27, 65) could not be resumed due to security problems. At least 1022 jawans of Pakistan Rangers and 2115 police personnel were deputed inside and outside the polling stations.
ANP observed 'black day' and took out rallies in different areas. Pakistan Rangers arrested two ANP workers who, according to Pakistan Rangers spokesman, were trying to disrupt election process at polling station No 55.
Meanwhile, the spate of target killings continued unabated on Sunday as unidentified armed men killed 18 more people in different parts of the city. The death toll during last 24 hours topped to 36.
On Sunday being off day, the government offices remained close. However, unknown pillion riders forcibly closed private commercial centres in protest against the killings.
People remained in-door and public transport was thin due to riots and arson incidents in parts of city. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered shoot at sight in Karachi.
"If anyone found committing crime in any part of the city he would be shoot at the sight," Malik said.
The most affected areas were Landhi, Banaras, Orangi Town, Lyari and Malir. Five people were killed in Landhi, three in Metrovil, three in Lyari, two in Malir, one in Banaras and one in Orangi Town. At least 15 vehicles were set on blaze in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Landhi, Banaras and Orangi Town.
Three people were killed and one injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on a carpet shop in Babar Market, Landhi. The bodies and injured were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for autopsy and treatment. Later, the deceased were identified as Sham Muhammad, Asmatullah and Niamatullah.
Another, 55-year-old man was gunned down in Landhi within Sharafi Goth police limits. Police said the man was kidnapped by four pillion riders. He was shot dead after being tortured. His body was taken to JPMC where he was identified as Saeed Badshah.
A 35-year-old man was targeted and killed in limits of Malir City police station. The body was taken to JPMC for autopsy where he was identified as Asif, son of Imam Bux. Police found a handcuffed body of 35-year-old man from Ghazi Town, Malir.
Three people were killed in Metrovil area. A 25-year-old youth was killed by unknown armed men near Hazara Chowk. He was identified as Afroze. Two tortured bodies were found from Peerabad area. They were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH). Later, one of them was identified as Imran, 35.
Another person namely Shamim, 35, was targeted and killed in Altaf Nagar. Three tortured bodies were recovered within Kalri and Kalakot police limits. A 55-year-old man was killed and three others injured by unidentified armed men. A 35-year-old man was killed in Qasba Colony.
In another incident, two people were killed and one injured near Malir 15. Police said all the three victims were brothers. They were identified as Qamar Alam, Waheed Alam and Imran Alam. The bodies and injured were taken to JPMC for post-mortem and treatment. Police said all the three brothers were active workers of MQM.
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