ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday took notice of a firing incident during a by-poll in a National Assembly constituency in Karachi, saying his administration would not tolerate any disruption to the election process.
One person was killed and nine others injured, according to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), when violence erupted among rival political parties in NA-240.
The by-election was held in the constituency after the death of Iqbal Muhammad Ali, a National Assembly member from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) party, in April.
“We cannot allow anybody to disrupt the peaceful polling process,” the chief minister said according to an official statement.
He instructed Sindh inspector general police Ghulam Nabi Memon to take “strict action” against the persons involved in the firing incident and skirmishes during the voting process.
Shah also urged political parties to demonstrate a responsible attitude.
“We are political people and should not allow violence,” he said.
According to the JPMC record, a 65-year-old man, Saifuddin Kaleem Siddique, was brought dead to the hospital after receiving a gunshot wound.
Different political parties contesting the by-poll blamed one another for instigating violence.
The election authorities started counting the votes after the polling process ended in the afternoon.
The official result of the contest is yet to be announced.