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| August 26, 2005 | Friday | Rajab 20, 1426 |
Low turnout, thin women attendance in NWFP
PESHAWAR, Aug 25: Five people were killed and 20 others wounded in poll-related violence in the second phase of local government elections held in 12 districts of the NWFP on Thursday.
Overall turnout was low and in several districts, like Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Kohistan, Battagram, Swat and in certain areas of Hangu, women were barred from casting their vote. Various electoral groups and independent candidates had entered into agreements to keep women out of the process.
Polling was suspended for some time at various polling stations following clashes and scuffles between supporters of rival candidates. At some polling stations missing symbols of candidates on ballot papers caused confusion and problems.
Information gathered by Dawn indicate that three people were killed and 10 others injured in the remote Kohistan district when rival groups clashed in the Madakhel Abad area.
In the Lower Dir District, two people were shot dead when some people opened fire on supporters of a rival candidate in union council Lajbook.
Workers of People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) clashed in union council Banda Gai of tehsil Talash in Lower Dir, but police intervened and brought the situation under control.
Activists of a militant outfit, clad in their uniform, were seen patrolling in different areas of the district in support of their candidates.
In Abbotabad, at least six people were injured in clashes at different polling stations.
By and large, polling in 51 union councils of the district was largely peaceful.
Cases of mismanagement were reported from some polling stations, where staff were short of stationery and in some cases did not have even voters’ list. Minority candidates were confused about the procedure and were unaware of the fact that Muslim voters could cast votes for them.
The turnout of voters, especially those of women, was low in most area.
In Lakki Marwat, one person suffered bullet injuries in union council Lakki-II when supporters of the PML-N and PML-Q exchanged fire.
In Balokhel area, women supporters of rival candidates clashed and polling was suspended. In many union councils, women did not turn up to vote and overall turnout in the district was low.
In Mansehra, polling was largely peaceful, and only some incidents of violence were reported from Sachan Kalan of Bhogarmang Valley and UC Sehali of Lower Tanawal area. The turnout was reported to be about 32 per cent. Participation of women was reported from most of the areas, except the union council of Labarkot where all candidates had agreed not to allow women to cast their votes.
In Swat, polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere in 65 union councils of the district and no incident of violence was reported from anywhere. However, the turnout was low.
In Hangu district, one policeman was wounded when supporters of a candidate tried to snatch a ballot box in Derband union council. No other major incident of violence was reported from any other place.
Complaints about bogus polling were received from some parts of the district. Polling was held for 19 union councils and 561 candidates were in the run in the district. Women were not allowed to take part in polling.
Reports of peaceful polling were received from Malakand, Chitral and Upper Dir.
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