QUETTA, July 9: At least three people were killed and 10 others injured in violence during by-election to the Balochistan Assembly seat PB-12, Qila Abdullah-II, on Saturday.
The injured included a presiding officer and a polling officer, who were attacked by supporters of candidates at Killi Khawaja Noor, sources said.
“Three people belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League and the Awami National Party were killed in an exchange of fire,” an official in Chaman said, adding that polling was suspended in five polling stations after incidents of violence.
Trouble started at a polling station at Killi Gul Mohammad Arambi when polling agents raised objections on various votes, leading to an exchange of hot words between them. Supporters of the candidates entered the polling station and tried to take away ballot boxes.
The polling staff and security officials resisted the move.
Meanwhile, supporters of two candidates started firing at each other outside the polling station. At least two people were killed and seven others injured in the firing.
Polling was suspended after the incident and army and Frontier Corps took over control of the area. The bodies and injured were taken to the Civil Hospital.
At Killi Khawaja Noor, supporters of two candidates opened fire at each other, resulting in the death of a man and injuries to three others.
Some people beat up the polling staff and injured Presiding Officer Abdul Shakoor and Polling Officer Abdul Hanan at a polling station.
Reports of firing and snatching of ballot boxes were also received from some other polling stations.
The parties contesting the by-election accused each other of kidnapping polling agents.
Those killed in firing were: Noor Shah, Samiullah and Mohammad Azam. They belonged to different parties.
The Election Commission and Qila Abdullah district administration extended the voting time for two hours in the troubled polling stations.
