KARACHI
\nPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday traded barbs as they blamed each other for rigging during the by-elections on two seats of the National Assembly in Sindh.
\nAlmost five million people in 11 constituencies were expected to cost their votes in high-stakes by-elections held today, described by political pundits as \u201ca referendum\u201d on the popularity of former prime minister Imran Khan.
\nThis is seen as a decisive moment in a polarised political environment of the country, with the outcome indicating support for the policies of a beleaguered government or a continued stalemate.
\nTensions remained high as allegations of electoral rigging surfaced on social media.
\nPTI\u2019s Ali Haider alleged that PPP leaders were in breach of the electoral commission\u2019s regulations as they apparently roamed around polling stations with armed private guards.
\nThe claims were soon followed by video footage of PTI Karachi President Bilal Ahmed Ghaffar which was posted by another party leader and former federal minister Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi.
\nGhaffar can be heard saying that PPP workers \u201cthrew him to the floor\u201d before 10 to 15 people hit him with bricks.
\n\u201cSaleem Baloch MPA was the first one who attacked me,\u201d he said alleging that police \u201cdid not respond\u201d as the attack took place.
\nThe claims were also endorsed by PTI Sindh\u2019s spokesperson Arsalan Taj who said that \u201cHakeem Baloch\u2019s son\u201d was behind the alleged attack.
\nMeanwhile, senior party leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umer also criticised the PPP for attempting to rig the polls as they condemned the attack.
\nTerming the PPP a \u201cfascist party\u201d Fawad expressed optimism that the \u201cpeople of Karachi will teach a lesson to the PPP for its thuggery\u201d.
\nAsad Umer also added that \u201cclear signs of large scale rigging are now visible in Malir area of Karachi\u201d.
\nOn the other hand, PPP\u2019s Danial Khokhar claimed that the attack had in fact been instigated by Ghaffar and an aggressive \u201cgroup\u201d of PTI workers which had also left Khokhar injured.
\nPPP leaders also shared videos of PTI\u2019s Gohar Khatak apparently \u201cthreatening\u201d the presiding officers at polling stations.
\nAs the reports caught fire on social media, the PPP candidate Hakeem Baloch reached polling station 123 under fears that the polling may be stopped sooner.
\nIt may be noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had earlier announced that by-polls in nine National and three Punjab Assembly constituencies would be held on October 16.
\nEarlier, the polls supervisory body had fixed October 9 for holding by-elections in one national and three provincial constituencies. Later, the election supervisor decided to change the polling date as Eid Miladun Nabi was also likely to fall on the same day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday traded barbs as they blamed each other for rigging during the by-elections on two seats of the National Assembly in Sindh. Almost five million people in 11 constituencies were expected to cost their votes in high-stakes by-elections held today, described by political pundits as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289733,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[364,158,933,11090],"class_list":{"0":"post-289706","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-ppp","9":"tag-pti","10":"tag-sindh","11":"tag-trade-blame"},"yoast_head":"\n