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Eight women among 15 injured in poll rivalry

MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 26: Around 15 people, including eight women, were shot injured by hoodlums allegedly being led by a cousin of PPP’s MNA-elect, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, over political rivalry in Basti Allah Bux Mastoi near Rampur locality, some 40 kilometres away from here, on Tuesday.

The victims were taken to Jatoi’s tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital where they were denied medical treatment. The police also did not provide any protection to the victims and instead arrested some male victims on their reaching the police station because Qayyum Jatoi’s cousin Khan Mohammad Khan Jatoi had lodged fake against them in the meantime.

Ramzan, who is studying at BZU in Multan, told Dawn that 200 assailants, armed with guns and pistols, most of them wanted by the police in number of cases, stormed their village at around 10am on Tuesday. Later, the assailants opened fire injuring around 15 people including eight women of the locality. During the firing, Khan Jatoi threatened the locals of dire consequences if they again voted against Jatois.

“If you gave vote next time to our rivals (Gopangs), we will even kill you,” Ramzan quoted Khan Jatoi as shouting during the ‘one-way’ firing.

According to Ramzan, six women, Azeeman Mai, Kalsoom Mai, Ameer Mai, Bahar Mai, Shamim Mai and Nazeer Mai, were injured critically, who were taken to Jatoi’s THQ Hospital but they were denied medical treatment.

Hafiz Allah Bukhsh, Ismaieel, Jameel and Kalu were some of the male victims who were also denied treatment at the THQ Hospital.

Later, Bukhsh told Dawn that they contacted Jatoi police but no policeman bothered to visit the crime scene and provide them shelter. He alleged that they were attacked because they had given votes to Jatoi’s rival PML-Q candidate Sardar Ashiq Gopang in the Feb 18 general elections.

He said the police arrested some of the injured men when they went to the police station for help because Khan Jatoi had lodged a fake FIR against them before they reached the police station.

Jatoi Station House Officer (SHO) Qamar Zaman was not available for comment. According to duty officer, the SHO was “in the field.”

When contacted, MNA-elect Qayyum Jatoi said he would take action against the “accused”.
Source: Dawn
Date:2/27/2008