Local government: Clashes mar second phase of polls in Punjab districts
ECP says it has received 56 complaints from Hafizabad, Mianwali and Gujranwala
Army personnel patrolling in the streets during the second phase of LB elections. PHOTO: INP
LAHORE:
Clashes between political rivals slowed polling in several of the 12 districts in the second phase of local government elections.
Polls on Thursday were held in Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura and Khanewal.
Polling started at 7:30am and concluded at 5:30pm. It disrupted by clashes in Mianwali, Sahiwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Khanewal and Chiniot. Despite several incidents that disrupted polling, the Election commission of Pakistan decided not to extend polling time at any of the polling stations. According to the monitoring wing of the Interior Ministry, five FIRs were lodged in the Punjab and more than 25 people were arrested. Of these, 16 were PML-N workers and four from the PTI.
Security personnel intervened in several clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) workers reported in Mandi Bahauddin, Shiekhupura and Gujranwala.
At around 2pm, it was reported that ballot papers had run short at several polling stations in Sargodha. In Sahiwal, several contestants said ballot papers carried incorrect symbols. .
In a statement, the ECP said it had not any received request for an extension.
The ECP statement said the commission had received 56 complaints from Hafizabad, Mianwali and Gujranwala. These districts had been declared sensitive by the government ahead of polls.
In Sheikhupura, clashes between rival groups resulted in disruption of polling in Kot Abdul Malik, Ferozewala and Muridke. As many as seven people were injured in firing incidents in the district. In Kot Abdul Malik, polling was suspended when a candidate claimed that police were forcing voters to cast votes in favour of the PML-N.
Police were called to rescue polling staff after they were locked in at a polling station in UC-17 in Ward 2 in Muridke by unidentified men who allegedly made away with ballot boxes. Polling was stopped at several polling stations in Mianwali due to poor law and order. In Gujranwala, several incidents of firing led to scuffles and arrests. Polling staff complained of harassment by supporters of various political parties. Two candidates were arrested from Kamoke at noon for disrupting law and order. In UC-22, security personnel were called in after PML-N supporters attacked a camp of an independent candidate. A similar incident was reported in Wazirabad’s Ward 26 where Rangers were called to break rioting crowds. Two people were arrested.
Army was called in at Mandi Bahauddin at 2pm following clashes between rival groups. An independent candidate was arrested after clashes broke out over allegations that police were casting votes.
As many as 10 people were injured and six were arrested in Hafizabad after clashes erupted between supporters of an independent candidate and the PML-N.
In Pindi Bhattian, four people were arrested when police intervened in clashes in front of polling stations. MPA Chaudhry Asadullah was reported injured in a firing incident after he and his guard was allegedly attacked by PTI workers. Harassment of polling staff was reported in Kabirwala, Khanewal. Polling was also stopped in Mian Channu.
Several children were apprehended from Ward 32 in Khanewal for casting votes in favour of a PML-N candidate. In Toba Tek Singh, three people were arrested after clashes in Peer Mahal and Gojra. Scuffles between PML-N and PTI workers were also reported in Kamalia. Raja Safeer, a PML-N candidate for union council chairman in Sohawa, Jhelum, was arrested after drugs and weapons were seized from his vehicle. A presiding officer was arrested in UC-11 in Sahiwal after being accused of handing out multiple ballot papers to voters. Polling staff was also arrested for forcing women voters to cast votes in favour of certain candidates. In Chiniot, polling was disrupted at 13 polling stations. Similar incidents were reported from 17 polling stations of Toba Tek Singh district.
Complaints of inadequate election material were reported from various polling stations in both these districts. No casualties were reported till the filing of this report.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2015.
Clashes between political rivals slowed polling in several of the 12 districts in the second phase of local government elections.
Polls on Thursday were held in Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura and Khanewal.
Polling started at 7:30am and concluded at 5:30pm. It disrupted by clashes in Mianwali, Sahiwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Khanewal and Chiniot. Despite several incidents that disrupted polling, the Election commission of Pakistan decided not to extend polling time at any of the polling stations. According to the monitoring wing of the Interior Ministry, five FIRs were lodged in the Punjab and more than 25 people were arrested. Of these, 16 were PML-N workers and four from the PTI.
Security personnel intervened in several clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) workers reported in Mandi Bahauddin, Shiekhupura and Gujranwala.
At around 2pm, it was reported that ballot papers had run short at several polling stations in Sargodha. In Sahiwal, several contestants said ballot papers carried incorrect symbols. .
In a statement, the ECP said it had not any received request for an extension.
The ECP statement said the commission had received 56 complaints from Hafizabad, Mianwali and Gujranwala. These districts had been declared sensitive by the government ahead of polls.
In Sheikhupura, clashes between rival groups resulted in disruption of polling in Kot Abdul Malik, Ferozewala and Muridke. As many as seven people were injured in firing incidents in the district. In Kot Abdul Malik, polling was suspended when a candidate claimed that police were forcing voters to cast votes in favour of the PML-N.
Police were called to rescue polling staff after they were locked in at a polling station in UC-17 in Ward 2 in Muridke by unidentified men who allegedly made away with ballot boxes. Polling was stopped at several polling stations in Mianwali due to poor law and order. In Gujranwala, several incidents of firing led to scuffles and arrests. Polling staff complained of harassment by supporters of various political parties. Two candidates were arrested from Kamoke at noon for disrupting law and order. In UC-22, security personnel were called in after PML-N supporters attacked a camp of an independent candidate. A similar incident was reported in Wazirabad’s Ward 26 where Rangers were called to break rioting crowds. Two people were arrested.
Army was called in at Mandi Bahauddin at 2pm following clashes between rival groups. An independent candidate was arrested after clashes broke out over allegations that police were casting votes.
As many as 10 people were injured and six were arrested in Hafizabad after clashes erupted between supporters of an independent candidate and the PML-N.
In Pindi Bhattian, four people were arrested when police intervened in clashes in front of polling stations. MPA Chaudhry Asadullah was reported injured in a firing incident after he and his guard was allegedly attacked by PTI workers. Harassment of polling staff was reported in Kabirwala, Khanewal. Polling was also stopped in Mian Channu.
Several children were apprehended from Ward 32 in Khanewal for casting votes in favour of a PML-N candidate. In Toba Tek Singh, three people were arrested after clashes in Peer Mahal and Gojra. Scuffles between PML-N and PTI workers were also reported in Kamalia. Raja Safeer, a PML-N candidate for union council chairman in Sohawa, Jhelum, was arrested after drugs and weapons were seized from his vehicle. A presiding officer was arrested in UC-11 in Sahiwal after being accused of handing out multiple ballot papers to voters. Polling staff was also arrested for forcing women voters to cast votes in favour of certain candidates. In Chiniot, polling was disrupted at 13 polling stations. Similar incidents were reported from 17 polling stations of Toba Tek Singh district.
Complaints of inadequate election material were reported from various polling stations in both these districts. No casualties were reported till the filing of this report.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2015.