Two killed, 14 injured in Pakistan firing during vote recount

Supporters of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) clashed outside the office of the returning officer in the industrial town of Hub, bordering Karachi

Two killed, 14 injured in Pakistan firing during vote recount

Protest in front of the deputy commissioner office in Quetta on Thursday. Pic/AP

At least two persons were killed and 14 others injured in an armed clash between the supporters of two political parties during a vote recount in a constituency in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, police said on Thursday. Supporters of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) clashed outside the office of the returning officer in the industrial town of Hub, bordering Karachi.

In the elections on February 8, BAP’s Muhammad Saleh Bhootani had claimed victory after unofficial results were announced but the PPP’s Ali Hassan Zehri sought a recount of votes to overturn the result. As a result, the Election Commission of Pakistan ordered a recount of votes.

“The clash took place when the recounting was taking place on Wednesday with votes of 39 polling stations being recounted, and fights broke out between supporters of both candidates,” SSP Hub Manzoor Ahmed Buledi said. Gunshots were fired, leaving two dead and 14 injured. The PPP supporters claimed this was a ploy to delay the announcement of the results.

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