BY-ELECTIONS - 12 MAY 2004

REPORTS: MINUTE BY MINUTE

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

 TWO MQM WORKERS SHOT DEAD  AND SCORES OF WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS CRITICALLY INJURED BY ARMED TERRORISTS OF PRO-TALIBAN ALLIANCES OF  RELIGIOUS PARTIES MUTTAHIDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA) INCLUDING JAMAT-E-ISLAMI

MQM FEDERAL COMMUNICATION MINISTER MR BABAR GHOURI HELD HOSTAGE BY DPO  SANGHAR FATEH SHER AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT POLICE (DSP) RIYAZ SOOMRO FOR HOURS IN PRESENCE OF PARA-MILITARY RANGERS LT.COL. JANJUA AND MAJOR HASHIM

6.00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
The following polling stations in just one constituency in Karachi are in total occupation of the terrorists' of the MMA including Jamat-e-Islami and the presiding officers and polling agents of the MQM were kept hostage while massive rigging took place inside the polling booth by massively stamping voter cards in favour of the MMA and Jamat-e-Islami Candidate in protection of the police and the para-military rangers.

1. Islamia Labour High School in PS:47, Rashidabad

2. Eden Park Grammar School in PS:59

3. Rashidabad Dispensary (KMC) in PS: 48

4. Azimabad School, Tipu Sultan Road in PS:23

5. Government Boys School-RB20, Guldad Shah Road in PS:20

6. Pak English School, Guldad Shah Road in PS:20

7. Pak English School, Guldad Shah Road in PS:19

8. Lasi Para School, Stop No.5 in PS:11, 13 and 14

9. Government Boys Secondary School, Bengali Para in PS:24

10. Naveed Public School, 5J, Saeedabad in PS:01

11. Five House Grammar School, Abidabad in PS:55

12. Public Ideal School in PS:21

13. Allama Iqbal School, Gulshan-e-Ghazi in PS:68

14. New Muslim School, Gulshan-e-Ghazi in PS:71

15. Government Boys Secondary School, RB44, 45 and 47 in PS: 15, Guldad Shah Road

16. Danish Children Academy, Kokan Colony in PS:43, Unit:113     

5.00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
Eyewitness accounts reported that the terrorists of the Religious Extremist Jamat-e-Islami under supervision of Parvez Mahmood, Jamat-e-Islami Nazim of Liaquatabad, Karachi shot Waqar from point blank range from AK-47 at Al-Azam Square, Federal Capital Area, Karachi. He was shot at his chest and died on way to the hospital. The para-military rangers and police watched this act of terrorism as a by-stander and made no effort to arrest the perpetrators. Waqar was an MQM worker of Unit 158.    

4.15 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
Umer Jat, the nominated candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) for PS 127, Malir, Karachi accompanied with armed terrorists' of the PPPP attacked the polling booth in Sadia Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar where they sprayed bullets indiscriminately. Police and para-military rangers did nothing to stop the terrorism of the PPPP.

In a separate terror attack, a mob of the religious extremists of the MMA fully armed with sophisticated weapons including AK-47 and G3 rifles attacked polling station at New Fine School, Anjam Colony, Baldia Town, Karachi where they are indiscriminately firing while this report is being compiled and have taken the MQM nominated candidate Mr Abid Ali Umang hostage within the compounds of the New Fine School. MQM ministers and leader are frantically appealing to the Authorities to intervene and save the life of Mr Abid Ali Umang. 

4.00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
The Central Election Camp of the MQM situated in Anjam Colony adjacent to "Patni" Hall, Baldia Town, Unit 116, Karachi has been ambushed by 600 terrorists' of MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal) armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated automatic weapons. Several MQM workers and supporters have been critically injured as a result of the unprovoked indiscriminate firing who were rushed to the hospital. We have just learnt that Mr Noor Siddiqui, an MQM worker has died in hospital. The terrorists' of the MMA have encircled the Election Camp wielding their weapons and threatening to occupy the Central Election Camp. The Police and the Para-Military Rangers are simply watching the attack as a mere by-standers and not apprehending the terrorists disturbing peace and committing murder and mayhem. MQM Ministers and leaders are informing the highest authorities both in Federal and Provincial Governments and demanding rightful assistance from the Authorities but to no avail. It appears that a few officials in Federal and Provincial Governments have formulated a policy to lend support to the extremists religious forces to weaken the liberal and progressive elements in province of Sindh in general and Karachi in particular.  

1:40 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)
The peaceful polling in Karachi by-elections has been turned into blood bath by the terrorists of the Pro-Taliban Religious Party Jamat-e-Islami and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) headed by Ms. Benazir Bhutto. In one terrorists' act, the terrorists' of the Pro-Taliban Religious Party Jamat-e-Islami armed with automatic rifles mainly AK-47 and G3 traveling in a Red Pajero Jeep bearing Registration Number BA 2761 opened indiscriminate fire at the MQM workers and supporters within the parameters of Shah Wilayat School, Block-13, Federal "B" Area, Karachi in which an MQM worker, 27/28 years old Amir Mushtaq of Unit 145, Gulberg/Ancholi Sector was shot, he was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in critical condition. Two terrorists laden with arms were arrested at the spot as they had come out of the jeep while rest of the terrorists speedily fled the spot. One of the arrested terrorist's name is Salahuddin while the name of the second terrorist is yet  unknown. Both terrorists are under arrest at the Gulberg Police Station, Karachi. It is pertinent to mention that even though MQM is a coalition partner but the terrorists of Jamat-e-Islami would be released as this Pro-Taliban Jamat-e-Islami and MMA are receiving tacit support from the Federal Government despite being in the opposition since this amalgam of the Extremist Religious Parties are providing leverage to the Federal Government in blackmailing the West in global war against terror.

In a second act of terrorism, the armed terrorists' of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) traveling in a Grey colour Suzuki Alto bearing Registration number AFZ 283 opened indiscriminate fire at the MQM workers and supporters in Mohabat Nager which falls within the parameters of Unit 95, Malir Sector. In this act of terrorism, an MQM supporter Abdul Rehman was hit and rushed to Jinnah Hospital where his condition is critical. Once again, it is pertinent to mention that even though the Home Ministry is with MQM but a few  top officers of Police and Para-Military Rangers being the co-opts of the Federation are supporting the extremist Religious Parties including Jamat-e-Islami and also the PPPP as they take orders from Islamabad because they are appointed by the Federal Government and not the Provincial Government.

The terrorism is taking place amid humiliating defeat faced by  both the Jamat-e-Islami and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) in the on-going by-elections and their objective is to sabotage the by-elections.

12:40 PM (Pakistan Stranded Time)
As the polling getting momentum and people are casting their votes in the favour of MQM candidates in large number, the pro-Taliban religious party Jamat-e-Islami have started its violent tactics to sabotage the by-elections as they are facing defeat in the by-elections.

According to the details, Parvez Mahmood, Town Nazim of Liaquatabad belonging to Jamat-e-Islami, has brought a large number of Klashnikove rifles at the polling camp of Jamat-e-Islami in Liaquatabad No 4 near Government Boys Secondary School for terrorist activities. Similarly dozens of armed terrorists of Jamat-e-Islami are standing at the gate of the polling station situated in Siraj-u-Dola College, Liaquatabad, Karachi to harass the voters.

According to another information, the PPP candidate of PS-127 Umer Jatt along with dozens of armed terrorists came in a car bearing number plate E-2826 to Jaffer-e-Tayar Society, Malir, Karachi and attacked the polling camp of the MQM Candidates.

These terrorists severely tortured the polling agents of the MQM candidates and fired at the MQM candidate Yousuf Munir Sheikh and other workers.

11.30 AM (Pakistan Standard Time - PST)
There is an upsurge in the turnout and polling is going on in all the constituencies of Karachi, Sanghar and Khairpur in the by-elections.  Thousands of voters have caste their votes in favour of the MQM candidates and the polls are picking momentum. A large number of people are reaching the polling camps of MQM candidates where MQM workers are guiding them to cast their votes.  Polling is continuing in most of the areas, However, there have been sporadic incidents of violence committed by the terrorists of Pro-Taliban Religious Party Jamat-e-Islami in Liaquatabad, Federal "B" Area and Baldia Town against the peaceful workers of the MQM.

10.30 AM (Pakistan Standard Time - PST)
Polling in most areas are mixed, many areas are extremely vibrant while some areas are experiencing slow voting. However, overall voting ratio is more than usually experienced in by-elections. Polling in Malir, New Karachi, North Karachi, Baldia Town, Sanghar and Khairpur  is vibrant and people are turning out in a reasonable numbers while voting in the rest of the areas are little slower. So far the polls are being conducted  peacefully, however,  Jamat-e-Islami and MMA alliance camps appear frustrated and egging their hoodlums to disturb peace in certain areas.  

8.30 AM (Pakistan Standard Time-PST)
Polling has begun in most of the polling stations in Karachi, Sanghar and Khairpur in the by-elections. However, it is reported that in a few polling stations, the polling staff have not turned up so far. The voters have already started to caste their votes in different polling booths in Malir, Federal "B" Area, Pak Colony and Baldia Town in Karachi and also in Sanghar District.  

7.55 AM (Pakistan Standard Time - PST)
Polling begins at 8.00 a.m. PST on four National Assembly and two Provincial Assembly seats in the by-elections in Karachi and also in Sanghar on a National Assembly seat while in Khairpur the by-election is taking place for a Provincial Assembly seat.

Polling camps of the MQM candidates are fully operative outside polling stations in all the constituencies and the workers of the MQM are actively guiding the voters in all the constituencies.

Related links:

Click here for by-elections campaign's detail and photographs