An activist of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was killed during a clash with supporters of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Faisalabad city of Punjab. Both PTI and PML-N traded blame for the killing in Faisalabad where civil life came to a standstill due to the political chaos and violence.
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According to Samaa correspondent, the PTI worker was killed when some of the ruling party supporters fired straight shots on a group of PTI protestors at Novelty Bridge of the city. Sources said the victim, identified as 23-year-old Asghar Ali, received a bullet in his abdomen and died on way to hospital. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah spoke to Samaa and denied his party workers’ role in the firing incident, blaming PTI for violence. PTI central leader, Shafqat Mehmood, speaking to Samaa, blamed the ruling party for ‘hooliganism’ and ‘state terrorism’ in the city considered as stronghold of PML-N. “They must be ashamed of telling a lie. The PML-N supporters opened fire on our peaceful and unarmed protestors,” he claimed.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the death and directed police authorities to ensure arrest of the culprits. PTI chief Imran Khan also condemned the killing. “Our workers are falling prey to bullets of Gullu Butts in police patronage. We believe they are involved in killings,” he said. The area turned into a battlefield when a large number of PTI and PML-N supporters threw stones on each others, prompting riot police to use water cannon and fire aerial shots in a failed attempt to disperse the protestors. – Samaa
