LAHORE: Punjab Home Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday while condemning the attack on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Nazir Chauhan suspended the SHO Johar Town for failing to maintain law and order during the by-election in constituency PP-167 in Lahore.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers clashed with one another before the by-election in constituency PP-167 in Lahore on Saturday. The two sides have accused each other of firing, while sons of the government’s candidate Nazir Chauhan and PTI’s candidate Khalid Gujjar have also been injured in the incident.

During a press conference in Lahore, the Punjab Interior Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the concerned SP will call for report on why weapons were not banned. “Nazir Chauhan was fatally attacked”, he said. The Interior Minister explained that candidates are prohibited from displaying and carrying weapon. The candidate who is most at risk will be given two policemen as guards, he added.

Expressing further concern over the security of the candidates he stated that the manner in which the firing took place was such that Nazir Chauhan’s car was totally smashed. He accused the PTI candidate Khalid Gujjar for attacking the PML-N candidate. “Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in the firing incident,” said Atta Tarar. He further said that wherever there is a by-election, there will be strict restrictions on the display of weapons.