ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: With the second phase of the local government elections 2005 only few days ahead, tension still prevails in the Union Council-43 Dhoke Khabba, Rawalpindi where one person was killed on Wednesday last in a violence between Shabab-i-Milli and Lal Haveli groups.

“People are so afraid of actively participating in electioneering that a woman told the supporter of a candidate during canvassing that she would prefer not to allow her family members to cast their votes, as she was in no mood to see a body on the polling day,” ex-district Nazim Tariq Kiani told Dawn here on Monday.

Former PML-N MPA Akhtar Mehmood also endorsed the reports about tension and said “Jamhooriat Nawaz” group had to work very hard convincing supporters to come forward and exercise their right of franchise.

This is the first ever incident in the history of Rawalpindi where a person was killed before the polling day, he said.

Candidates of Awam Doost (supported by PPP) and Jamhooriat Nawaz (supported by PML-N) alleged that by taking advantage of the incident, the Lal Haveli group was harassing opponents by threatening them nominate in an FIR registered on the incident of violence in the area.

Local PML-N leader Sardar Nasim alleged that the Lal Haveli group had nominated 41 people in the FIR of which only 17 persons had been booked by name.

“The opponents are being threatened that their names would be included in the FIR if they open offices for election campaign in the area,” he said.

Deputy Chairman of Awam Doost group Agha Riazul Islam alleged that candidates of his group were being terrorized by the police.

Chaudhry Zafarullah, the ex-nazim of Dhoke Khabba, urged the government to take strict security measures on August 25 so that people might cast their votes.

Security forces have been deployed in the area, he said, adding that the elements responsible for the incident had become jittery and were creating law and order situation because they were being challenged by the strong opposition.

Four strong candidates are in the running in the area for the seat of Nazim including, Chaudhry Zafarullah supported by Tariq Kiani, Khizar Hayat of Lal Haveli group, Chaudhry Ittefaq of Awam Dost and Haji Mohammad Tahir Khan of Al-Khidmat group. The total population of Dhoke Khabba is around 23,000 of which registered voters are 10,814.

Chaudhry Zafarullah was confident to repeat his success by securing votes in four digits, adding that his priority would be to lay the concrete lining of Nullah Leh to check devastation of overflowing waters during monsoon season. The project would cost Rs30 million, he said.

He also appealed to the election commission not to accept nomination papers of candidates in future with dubious source of income or who were notorious for anti-social activities.