The Lahore police has arrested former MPA of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chaudhry Shabbir Gujjar, on grounds of suspected disturbance of peace and nomination in various cases.

A couple of days ago, Gujjar was seen campaigning for the PTI candidate in PP-164 constituency of Lahore where 20 candidates, including PML-N's Rashid Minhas and PTI's Muhammad Yousuf backed by Sunni Ittehad Council, are gearing up for a tight electoral battle.

تمام تر رکاوٹوں کے باوجود چوہدری شبیر گجر صاحب جلسہ گاہ میں پہنچ گئے انشا اللہ پی پی 164 سے پاکستان تحریک انصاف بھاری اکثریت سے جیتے گی ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/tsCzO5VWPx
— Ch Shabbir Gujjar - pp 162 (@ChShabbirguj) April 18, 2024

Gujjar's arrest comes amid reports of clashes in various cities of Punjab where one person has been reportedly killed, three injured and six arrested.

A brawl broke out between workers of the PML-N and PTI workers in Zafarwal's constituency, PP-54, wherein a 60-year-old man was killed after a baton hit his head.

Also Read: One killed, 3 injured in violent clashes at Lahore, Ferozewala, Zafarwal polling stations

In Lahore's NA-119 constituency, tensions flared between workers of the Sunni Ittehad Council and the PML-N at Polling Station No. 171 near the University of Engineering and Technology (UET).

Meanwhile, in Ferozewala's PP-139 constituency, a confrontation between two groups outside the Government High School Nizampura turned violent, with gunfire being exchanged. Three people sustained injuries during the altercation.

Polling for by-elections in 21 constituencies of the National and provincial assemblies across the country has commenced at the scheduled time of 8am and will culminate at 5pm.

Also Read: By-elections: Polling kicks off for 21 seats of National, provincial assemblies

By-elections are being held in five constituencies of the National Assembly and 16 seats of three provincial assemblies. At some polling stations, a large number of presence of voters is being reported, while some paint a deserted look even a couple of hours into the polling process.