KARACHI: The leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Karachi Bilal Ghaffar is reported to have been physically assaulted in Karachi’s Malir area as people thronged to polling stations to cast their votes for by-elections across the country.
MM News has learnt that Bilal Ghaffar was visiting different polling stations in Malir NA-237 when unknown miscreants badly thrashed and injured him.
Talking to newsmen, PTI member of Sindh Assembly Arsalan Taj alleged that goons affiliated with PPP leader Saleem Baloch attacked and injured Bilal Ghaffar.
He said PPP was terrified by anticipating its defeat while the Election Commission, on the other hand, was playing the role of silent spectator. He further alleged that the government’s machinery was being openly used in the constituency of NA-237, and advised the PPP not to test PTI’s patience.
سندھ حکومت کے غلاموں نے پیپلز پارٹی کے گنڈوں نے کراچی کے پریذیڈنٹ بلال غفار پر تشدد کیا اور لہولہان کردیا
#ووٹ_کپتان_کا pic.twitter.com/QRKip8ZuRy— Muniba Mehmood (@MunibaBeyg) October 16, 2022
The PTI leader and former federal minister Ali Haider Zaidi posted a video of Bilal Ghaffar, alleging that he had been attacked by goons affiliated with PPP.
PPP goons attacked Karachi President MPA @BilalAGhaffar
He has been taking to the Hosptial with boss and head injuries.
Criminals ruling Sindh! pic.twitter.com/he8YdrC7Kq— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 16, 2022
Narrating facts, Bilal Ghaffar said he was first thrashed by PPP workers after which some of them hit him with stones, injuring him on the spot. He accused PPP MPA Saleem Baloch of leading the attack against him. Bilal Ghaffar alleged that Police didn’t come for his help when approached against the attack.
Ali Zaidi also posted a video of a retired female judge narrating the incident.
Video statement of Retired Judge Rana Zaki Shamsi on the attack on @BilalAGhaffar who has now been shifted to the Hospital. pic.twitter.com/3Gl32nKPAw
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 16, 2022
PTI leader Asad Umar alleged that the attack on Bilal Ghaffar clearly reflects PPP-engineered massive rigging in the constituency.
تحریک انصاف کراچی صدر بلال غفار پر پیپلز پارٹی کے غنڈوں کا حملہ اور انبکو زخمی کر دیا گیا . NA 237 ملیر کراچی میں اب پیپلزپارٹی کی بڑی پیمانے پر دھاندلی کے واضح آثار نظر آنے شروع #بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 16, 2022
Reacting on the incident, Fawad Chaudhry termed PPP a fascist party, and said it would be taught a lesson by the brave people of Karachi the way they defeated the terror of MQM.
تحریک انصاف کراچی کے صدر بلال غفار پر حملے کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں، پیپلز پارٹی ایک فاشسٹ جماعت ہے اور جس طرح کراچی کے بہادر لوگوں نے MQM کی دھشت گردی کو ختم کیا اسی طرح پیپلز پارٹی کی غنڈہ گردی کو بھی سبق سکھائیں گے #بلے_پہ_ٹھپہ
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 16, 2022
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Malir confirmed the incident and said that as a result of clash between two political parties, PTI’s Bilal Ghaffar sustained injuries and shifted to hospital.
Later in the day, PTI leaders including Ali Zaidi, Aftab Siddiqi and Shahzad Qureshi called on the SSP Malir Irfan Bahadur and apprised him of the incident. Speaking on this occasion, the SSP Malir Irfan Bahadur assured him of stern action against those involved in the heinous act.
