ECP seeks report on violence-plagued Sindh LG polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has instructed the IG Sindh and the provincial election commissioner to submit a report on the incidents of violence that occurred during the Sindh local government polls within three days.

At least two people were killed and several others were injured on the polling day, which also saw the kidnapping of polling staff members by armed bandits, rigging allegations and assault on election camps.

In a report released on Monday, the electoral watchdog also sought a report on the absence of polling staff and irregularities in the ballot papers, in addition to a report on the alleged harassment of a female presiding officer at the hands of the son of the provincial assembly’s lawmaker Hari Ram Kishori Lal.

Similarly, it said it has also ordered a report concerning the firing incidents in Lahore’s PP-167 from a three-member inquiry committee within 10 days.

However, the ECP, whose performance has come under severe attack in the wake of the violence-plagued by-polls, pinned the blame on provincial governments and the political parties for creating impediments in the holding of peaceful and smooth by-polls.

Nonetheless, it noted that the election authority was able to pull off the first phase of local bodies elections in both Sindh and Balochistan despite a number of difficulties and obstacles.

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The watchdog, while comparing the untoward incidents reported in the 2015 polls with the ones held now, noted that the recent by-polls were comparatively fairly better in terms of maintaining order as well as the number of incidents of violence.

According to the ECP, there were two deaths during the recent local body elections while the death toll in 2015 was 15.

Eight people were injured while the number of injured was 25 in 2015. In addition, 10 violent incidents took place in the recent local body elections while 13 incidents took place in 2015, it added.

The ECP also said it was committed to making better arrangements for other upcoming by-polls, adding it will soon hold meeting with law enforcement agencies for the provision of security and maintenance of law and order.