PESHAWAR, Aug 19: Seven people, three of them children, were injured in two separate incidents related to local body elections in the city, eyewitnesses said. Police have registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against the nazim-elect of union council No-19, his family members and supporters on charges of injuring the three children, police officials said.

The children were injured when supporters of Tariq Aziz, alleged opened fire while celebrating his victory following an announcement by the returning officer in Ghari Saidaan locality of Hashtnagri.

“The children were standing near the polling office of Tariq Aziz,” said an eyewitness who escaped unhurt during the firing.

One child was hit by a bullet close to the eye and the two suffered injuries in the hand and leg, they said. The children were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital for treatment. The condition of one child was stated to be serious.

Mr Aziz however denied that his men were responsible for the firing incident and instead pinned the blame on supporters of a rival candidate who he claimed were trying to eliminate him.

He said the firing began soon after the returning officer had declared him victorious. The Awam Dost candidate said that he knew the two persons who had opened fire and both were residents of the same locality.

Mr Aziz said that he had gone to the Hashtnagari police to register a case against the attackers, but they refused. He said that he would now approach the Peshawar High Court in the matter.

However, police officials have refuted Mr Aziz’s claim and have said that his supporters had opened fire.

The police have registered a case under sections 324, 148, 149, 13AD, 3/4AF of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act against Mr Aziz, Rehman Naz, Kosar Hayat, councillor-elect Sikandar Niazuddin, Malik Azam, Tariq Naeem, Ghulam Asghar, Mehr Din and others.

The police later conducted a raid on the house of Mr Aziz and his polling office and arrested his brother Kosar, Malik Azam, Tariq Naeem, Ghulam Asghar and Mehr Din.

Meanwhile, supporters of two rival candidates opened fire on each other on the issue of 21 women, who were arrested by the police during polling in Hasan Ghari No-2 on charges of vote fraud. Eyewitnesses said Jameel and his supporters opened fire on Ghani, Ajmal and Hamayun, who also retaliated.