LAHORE: At least six persons, including three sons of a PML-N candidate, were injured allegedly when his political opponents opened fire during the cantonment board poll campaign late on Sunday.

Police said Naeem Butt, a PML-N candidate, was campaigning in Ward No 7 when his political opponents allegedly opened fire. As a result, six people, including three sons of the PML-N candidate, suffered bullet injuries. The suspects fled the scene after the incident.

The injured were identified as Fahim Butt, Azeem Butt, Waseem Butt, Shafi, Adil Mukhtar and Irfan. The injured were taken to hospital where they were said to be stable.

Meanwhile, a police contingent reached the spot, collected forensic evidence and started investigation.

Police registered a case against three suspects -- Kamran, Nauman and Asif Butt -- on the complaint of the PML-N candidate.

On Monday, Capital City Police Officer Ghulam Mahmood Dogar also held a meeting to review the security plan for the cantonment board elections.

He ordered a foolproof security for 121 polling stations in the Lahore Cantonment and 234 others in Walton Board.

He directed the implementation of the poll’s code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan that banned use of loudspeaker in the campaign processions.

He said security officials should be deployed outside the polling stations and voters should undergo a thorough checking before entering there.

He said the CCTV cameras should also be installed outside the polling stations for monitoring of the voting process.

He said a three-tier security system should be put in place by installing metal detectors, walk-through gates and barbed wires around the polling stations.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021