KHAIRPUR, Jan 14: District Nazim Nafisa Shah, acting Naib Nazim Shafi Mohammad Chandio, 11 Awam Dost Panel councillors and eight others were booked here on Wednesday following a clash between two groups of the district council.

Mr Chandio and union council Nazim Syed Amjad Shah Jilani were arrested by the A-section police after the clash in which five district council members were injured.

The clash started after Abdul Aziz Bhambhro of the Khairpur Dost Panel, who is a claimant of the Naib Nazim post, and his supporters occupied the office of the Naib Nazim.

Khadim Lodo, Nazim Chhuttal Bhand and Wazir Bhand of the KDP and Din Mohammad and Bashir Ahmad of the ADP were injured in the clash. The police later controlled the situation.

DISTRICT NAZIM: While talking to journalists, the district Nazim said rival members had illegally opened the Naib Nazim office though the Sindh High Court had issued a stay order in favour of Mr Chandio. She said the illegal detention of two ADP Nazims at an undisclosed place was an act of harassment.

PML-F MNA: PML-F MNA Syed Javed Shah Jilani claimed that ADP members attacked KDP members who were sitting there since morning to participate in the session of the council.

PPP MPA: PPP MPA Nawab Ali Wassan after the incident held a meeting with Ms Shah and ADP members at the district Nazim office. He said the issue would be raised in the Sindh Assembly.

Meanwhile, district council member Nisar Ahmad Bhambhro lodged an FIR against 22 persons, including Ms Shah, Naib Nazim, his son, Shakeel Ahmad, Imtiaz, Din Mohammad, Rajab, Sbhabi, Akhtar, Abdul Sattar, Sardar Ali Gopang and Syed Amjad Shah Jilani.

PROCESSION: ADP members took out a procession from the district council hall, demanding release of the ADP members. Later, the City ASP allowed Ms Shah, MPA Wassan, some Nazims and lawyers of their panel inside the police station.

However, a counter FIR was not registered. Ms Shah later left the police station, saying the police refused to register her FIR regarding the death of Muhisin Shah UC Nazim Bahadur Ali Phul, who she said died of harassment, and injuries to some Nazims.

Before the protest, a meeting of the district council was held at the committee room which condemned the arrest of the Nazims and the incident in a resolution. The meeting also condoled the death of Mr Phul.