ISLAMABAD: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, has taken note of the attack on the office of a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate in Lahore’s Tattoo Katla area. The incident involved the use of a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) targeting the office of PPP’s candidate Manzar Abbas Khokhar in Lahore.
Khokhar, who is contesting the upcoming February 8 general elections from the PP-162 constituency, experienced the attack on his office by unknown assailants on Friday morning. According to a party spokesperson, the banners on the gate were set on fire by the petrol bombs, and the attackers also stole chairs and other items.
In response, Khokhar’s son reached the Township Police Station, and the police have assured him that legal action will be taken against the attackers after a thorough investigation.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson stated that they have been directed to register a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint by the PPP. The inspector general of Punjab has also received instructions regarding the matter.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack, labeling it as “open terrorism.” He criticized the Lahore police for their perceived bias in not registering the FIR promptly. Bilawal also condemned a firing incident during PPP’s Agha Rafiullah’s corner meeting in Gulshan-e-Buner, which resulted in four injuries.
Expressing concern over the targeting of PPP candidates in Lahore and Karachi, Bilawal asserted that the people would respond to such tactics by voting for the ‘arrow’ on February 8.
To address concerns about the law and order situation ahead of the elections, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar formed a high-level committee on Thursday to oversee election security.
This move comes amid reports of attacks on candidates, including the killing of an independent candidate and two aides during a campaign in the province. Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar has also warned of a “rising tide of crime,” including attacks and kidnappings of candidates.
