ISLAMABAD, July 16: The Election Commission on Saturday cancelled a Balochistan by-election held in PB-12 Qila Abdullah on July 9 for gross irregularities and ordered fresh polls on a date to be fixed later.

Presided over by Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, a meeting of the commission considered complaints/reports and found to be true allegations of rigging, abduction and torture of polling personnel and capturing of some polling stations by miscreants in the constituency.

The commission also directed the provincial government to submit a report regarding the law and order situation in the area. Fresh by-elections would be announced after considering the report in detail.

Not a single vote was cast, the election commission noted, at two polling stations for women while at others the turnout was too low, which indicated that women were not allowed to cast votes. It has caused serious doubts about the credibility of the polling, the commission observed.

The EC directed the provincial government to identify the miscreants, who resorted to alleged illegalities and manhandled the polling staff.

It also directed the government to register cases against the culprits and report to the commission.