Karachi – The recounting process at four polling stations in NA-231 Malir III turned violent on Friday as armed men stormed the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ransacking the premises, according to election officials.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Abdul Hakeem Baloch was declared the winner of NA-231 with 43,634 votes in the provisional results. However, on the request of PTI candidate Advocate Khalid Mehmood, the election tribunal ordered a recount at polling stations PS-65, 71, 98, and 175.
The situation escalated when armed individuals, their faces covered, forcefully entered the ECP office around 11 am, disrupting the recounting process. According to a statement by Regional Election Commissioner Karachi, Imtiaz Ahmed Qureshi, the attackers broke into the Committee Room, ransacked office furniture, and took polling bags from the four stations. The bags were later set on fire in front of the building.
Despite the deployment of police forces and a heavy security presence, the attackers managed to breach the premises. South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed that a first information report (FIR) had been registered against the unidentified attackers. “Strict legal action will be taken against those involved in rioting and hooliganism,” he said, adding that authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the culprits.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh and Sindh Secretary General Ali Pulh accused PPP of orchestrating the attack. Pulh, who was present at the recounting, claimed, “If there is a fair recount, this seat is ours.” PTI also alleged that their candidate Khalid Mehmood was tortured and abducted during the chaos, with attackers taking his laptop.
In a statement, PTI Sindh blamed “PPP thugs” for the destruction of records, asserting that the ruling party feared losing the seat. PPP has yet to issue an official response to these claims.
The recounting process, ordered by the court, was meant to address concerns raised by PTI regarding the integrity of the election results in NA-231, but the violence has cast further uncertainty over the outcome.
