PPP's Ameer Shah defeats GDA's Arbab Rahim in Umerkot by-poll.

UMERKOT -- Pakistan Peoples Party's candidate Syed Ameer Ali Shah secured 55,904 votes to defeat his rival Grand Democratic Alliance candidate Arbab Ghulam Rahim by 24,983 votes as per the unofficial results of all 128 polling stations in the PS-52 Umerkot-II by-election held on Monday.

Arbab Rahim polled 30,921 votes, according to the unofficial results announced a little before midnight. The polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere at all polling stations except four in Allah Warayo Mahar, Hukum Singh and Bhojrajyo villages and Khosa Mohalla where clashes between PPP and GDA voters led to suspension of voting process for an hour.

Twelve persons, all of whom were said to be associated with PPP, were injured in the clashes. However, security personnel stepped in immediately to defuse the situation and restore the voting process.

The seat had fallen vacant after death of Syed Ali Mardan Shah of PPP, who was father of Syed Ameer Ali Shah. Mardan Shah had inflicted defeat on veteran politician Arbab Ghulam Rahim in general election by 20,000 votes.

Arbab, then and now, enjoyed support of GDA, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and local groups of Ghosia Jamaat, Hur Jamaat, Jeelani Jamaat, Sarhandi Jamaat, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Arbab's own Peoples Muslim League, Zulfiqar Mirza group, Jamaat-i-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.

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