BAHAWALPUR, July 5: The Head Rajkan police have arrested 11 PPP supporters, including defeated candidate Iftikhar Cheema in the bypoll for PP-276, on the charge of attempted murder.

Brothers and nephews of Iftikhar Cheema were among the accused taken into custody on the report of one Khadim Hussain, who had lodged the complaint after the bypoll results late Saturday night.

Khadim Hussain of Chak 61/NB had alleged in his complaint that he and his companions supported PML candidate Dr Muhammad Afzal instead of PPP's Iftikhar Cheema in the bypoll. This led to the victory of the PML candidate. However, loser Iftikhar Cheema took it ill.

The complainant alleged that after the bypoll results he was on way to his house when Iftikhar Cheema and his brother Zafar Iqbal shot at and injured him. The police after registering a case under section 324 PPC arrested 11 people.

Talking to newsmen in the lock-up, Iftikhar Cheema claimed that he had been wrongly implicated in a false case. He said the government wanted to punish him for contesting the election against the ruling party nominee.

He further alleged that the complainant and his companions had in fact displayed fireworks in front of his house to celebrate the victory of Dr Afzal. He reprimanded Khadim and others when one of the crackers landed in his house.

At this, Khadim and his companions opened fire on them, injuring his brother and nephew, who were not provided medical facility at the beck and call of the police. He denied opening fire on the complainant which could be confirmed from villagers.

As of now, no PPP or ARD leader has come to meet with Iftikhar Cheema in the police lock-up. DPO Arif Nawaz told Dawn on Monday that the case would be investigated on merit.

He said Yazman DSP Sabir had been directed to complete the investigation immediately. However, he alleged that two persons of the complainant party sustained gunshot injuries and that the law would take its own course.

Meanwhile, local PPP leaders threatened to go on hunger strike if Iftikhar Cheema and his relatives were not released and cases against them not withdrawn. A meeting held here on Monday under the chairmanship of district president Riaz Ahmad Dahar condemned the government for its anti-people measures.