Only 37% of Sanghar turns up to vote

Polling concludes with minor clashes in district where polls were postponed earlier due to threats

HYDERABAD: A tense day concluded peacefully in Sanghar where local government (LG) polls took place, albeit with a few skirmishes. The turnout, according to unofficial initial estimates, remained between 35 to 40% in most polling stations.

The district consists of 70 union councils (UC) in the district council, four municipal committees (MCs) and 10 town committees (TCs). But the elections on two UCs in Tando Adam taluka were postponed due to litigation regarding its boundaries presently under way in the Sindh High Court.

The district witnessed a one-on-one contest between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F). In the 2013 general elections, among six seats of the provincial assembly, four went to the PML-F and two to the PPP.



At least six persons were injured in two separate clashes in Tando Adam taluka's UC Maang Thaeem and Khipro's UC Raank. In Khipro, where rivals resorted to aerial firing, one person was reportedly injured.  At some polling stations, voting started an hour or more late due to shortage of polling material or absence of electoral staff.

PML-F boycott

The PML-F boycotted polling in Korro Khan UC. "The polling stations have been set up at places selected by the PPP. The ballot papers were also handed over to the PPP candidate," alleged Samano Khan Dahiri, the PML-F candidate.

Brotherly rivalry

Ali Muhammad alias Akbar Marri from PML-F and Aurangzeb Marri of PPP, both brothers of PPP MNA Shazia Marri, contested as opposing candidates in ward one of Berani TC.

PML-F's Akbar opposed his sister's nomination as the chief polling agent for Aurangzeb when Shazia arrived at the polling station. On his complaint, the presiding officer cancelled her nomination. "Nowhere do the rules state that an MNA cannot become a chief polling agent. She has just come to cast her vote," argued Aurganzeb, while talking to the media.



According to deputy commissioner Umar Farooq Bullo, 7,000 policemen and 1,000 Rangers personnel were deployed to provide security to voters.

Showdown in Badin

In Badin, former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza's son MPA Hasnain Mirza alleged that polling staff from Nawabshah and Larkana was posted at polling stations. "Badin has been turned into a police state. The police are intimidating our voters," he claimed.

Polling was held successfully in Talhar TC, Kario Ganwar TC and four UCs in Badin, where a group of candidates led by Mirza contested against the PPP, PML-F and PML-Nawaz.

Four persons were injured in a fight between the PPP and Mirza's supporters at polling station Ali Bux Chang in Kario Ganwar. Polling was suspended for about an hour as police dispersed the troublemakers. "The police have closed the doors [of the polling station]. We fear they may be casting fake votes for PPP candidates," alleged Salman Shah, a candidate of the Mirza-led group.

A brawl also occurred at a polling station in Talhar TC's ward 3. In Tando Bago, where polling for a UC was under way, Rangers arrested an assistant presiding officer on the complaint of a candidate from the Mirza-led group.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2016.