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| August 26, 2005 | Friday | Rajab 20, 1426 |
Poll clashes in various areas of interior Sindh; Three killed in Larkana, one in Khairpur
HYDERABAD, Aug 25: The second phase of local body elections held in 12 districts of lower and upper Sindh on Thursday was marred by target killings and other incidents of firing, resulting in the death of four persons — three in Larkana and one in Khairpur.
Because of clashes, polling was suspended at many polling stations. In Sukkur district, 20 persons were injured and 30 were arrested for violence and firing incidents. Ballot boxes were also snatched in Sukkur and Pano Aqil and many polling stations were stormed by armed youths in the presence of law-enforcement personnel.
Clashes and incidents of firing were also reported from Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Dadu and Jamshoro districts.
Shamim Shamsi reports from Sukkur: Like elsewhere, polling started at 8am and continued until 5pm. Acts of violence were witnessed after 4pm when police and rangers failed to control youths who had entered several polling stations and tried to snatch ballot boxes by overpowering returning officers and their staff.
According to reports reaching from Pano Akil, an armed clash took place between the supporters of Jam Saifullah Dharejo of the Awam Dost panel and Chachar tribesmen, during which both sides opened fire. Three persons suffered injuries as a result.
In Sukkur, five persons suffered injuries in a clash between the supporters of Awam Dost and Khushaal Pakistan panels in Bachal Shah Miani.
On the complaint of the Awam Dost panel, returning officer Mohammad Ali Solangi suspended Qaiser Sikandar, the presiding officer of a polling station in union council of Baiji Sharif, on charges of affixing stamps and putting ballot papers in boxes.
Miscreants opened fire at different polling stations when chief election commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar visited Sukkur. Police arrested more than 20 activists allegedly involved in creating a law and order situation.
Three boys clad in burqa entered a polling station of union council 2 Sukkur and snatched ballot papers from polling staff. However, police arrested them in the end.
The situation in Pano Akil became tense and the army was called out to control it.
In union council 8, some unidentified men attacked a polling station and snatched ballot boxes. In union council 9 of Old Sukkur, armed persons opened fire and tried to enter a polling station, but police foiled their attempt and arrested seven of them.
Qurban Ali Khushik reports from Dadu: Turnout was 35 per cent in rural areas. Many polling stations remained closed for hours for a variety of reasons.
Rangers officials took into custody SP investigation Dadu on complaints of his intervention at polling stations while Dadu police arrested an MQM-backed candidate for naib nazim in UC Khudabad.
The SP investigation Dadu, Tipu Sultan, told Dawn that he had been called to the Rangers complaint cell for joint patrol but when he reached there, he was made to sit for eight hours.
It was only after Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi intervened that he was allowed to go.
The officials of Rangers denied his arrest.
Polling at the Girls Primary School of union council Khudabad, taluka Dadu, started two hours late. MQM candidate for naib nazim in the UC, Ali Raza Panhwar, entered the ladies booth with three persons and snatched ballot papers from polling staff. On being informed DPO and RO Dadu arrived at the scene and arrested Ali Raza Panhwar. An FIR was also registered against him.
The Rangers also arrested one Mashooq Mahessar on bogus voting charges.
A clash took place between polling agents of MQM and Awam Dost panel at the Primary School Gharibabad in UC-1 of Dadu city. Kicks and fists were freely exchanged. The MQM announced boycott of the election in the UC. Its candidates held a protest march and demanded fresh voting.
A candidate for nazim in UC Baladai, Mohammad Khan Khoso, was arrested by Mehar police. In UC Radhan and Sanwar Aral, polling started three to four hours late for lack of ballot papers.
A clash took place between candidates of ADP and Dadu Ittehad Panel at Wario Panhwar polling station of UC Muradabad where they used axes and lathis.
Rival candidates at Shah Hassan UC and Gaji Shah UC resorted to aerial firing over use of women’s fake votes.
Three persons were injured in exchange of fire between supporters of Awam Dost Panel and Dadu Ittehad Panel in UC Chhinni, taluka Johi.
Another clash between ADP and DIP supporters took place at a polling station where police arrested ADP’s polling agent and two women, Ms Aminat and Ms Fazila Jamali.
JAMSHORO: Polling was held in 28 UCs of Jamshoro district.
ADP and KPP candidates exchanged hot words when agents of KPP candidates of UC Sindh University indulged in bogus voting.
Later, police arrested chief polling agent of ADP candidate of Sindh University Jamshoro union council Allah Bachayo Nohani.
The agents of KPP and ADP candidates also exchanged hot words when supporters of KPP candidates entered polling station UC Sari, UC Thano Bula Khan and polling station workshop.
Polling at the Bhan High School was suspended for half an hour when the Sindh Dost Panel candidate and ADP candidates exchanged hot words but situation was controlled and Rangers and Army was deployed in Bhan town.
Mansoor Mirani reports from Khairpur: Amid clashes and high tension polling was held in Khairpur district where one person was killed and 13 others were injured.
A wagon carrying supporters and voters was attacked by unidentified armed men near Saghiyoon.
Some workers including Mohammad Umer were injured.
Umer later succumbed to injuries on his way to hospital.
Imtiaz Mallah, ADP nazim candidate for UC Naseer Faqir Jalalani, Kotdiji taluka, boycotted polling.
The ADP nazim candidate Imtiaz Mallah and chief polling agent and PPP leader Comrade Basheer Mallah told reporters that polling agents and other ADP workers were not allowed to enter polling stations of Babar Wada and Noor Bozdar.
ADP and KDP agents at Pir Bux Keerio polling station of taluka Thari Mirwah clashed which resulted in injury to KDP worker Ali Gulab Siyal and Sher Mohammad Siyal, ADP worker.
A clash between ADP and KDP workers was reported at Mehrab Sodhro polling station of taluka Thari Mirwah.
In UC Mahessar Veesar, nine people were injured in a clash between ADP and KDP workers and polling agents.
MPA Nawab Wassan claimed that ADP agents had been manhandled at UC Rasool Bux Mari polling station, Kotdiji taluka.
One Basheer Ahmed, supporter of ADP was injured at UC Mahar Ali polling station, taluka Khairpur, when ADP and KDP agents and workers clashed.
ASI Ghulam Rasool Langah who was trying to intervene also received minor injury.
A low turnout was reported throughout the district.
In Khairpur town, the turnout remained the lowest.
Rahmatullah Soomro reports from Shikarpur: Polling was held at 48 UCs in the district on Thursday.
All the candidates at two union councils — Bhirkan and Lakhi — were declared unopposed as no nomination was filed against them.
About 12 pairs of nazims and naib nazims in 14 UCs and over 100 councillors of different categories were also elected unopposed.
Besides, 14 seats including two Muslim women, two peasant workers female and nine minority seats were remained uncontested which would be filled through by-election.
The district witnessed low turnout as in city it remained 5 to 15 per cent from 8am to 12 noon later it raised to 15 to 25 percent in city Shikarpur while in rural areas, turnout was reported 50-60 percent.
Four people Yousuf Wadhyo, Rahim Bux Wadhyo and Ayub Kharos and another unidentified in UC Mohammad Panah Odho and Syed Ansar Shah candidate of nazim in Shikarpur city UC-5 all belonging to Awam Dost Panel were injured in clashes.
Zulfiqar Memon reports from Nawabshah: Indus Rangers detained 12 people including PPP’s MPA for disturbing polling process and more than 21 persons were injured in different incidents on polling day of second phase of local bodies elections.
No major untoward incident was reported from any part of district and polling remained peaceful in 51 union councils.
More than 12 persons were injured in clash between Keerio and Brohi tribesmen at union council Karam Ali Jamali.
Six persons were injured in clash between supporters of Awam Dost and Awami Ittehad Panels in union council Chanesar-I. Three persons were injured in clash between supporters of Haq Parast and Awam Dost Panels in UC-5 city.
Clashes between groups of Haq Parast and Awam Dost Panel were also reported in UC-2, UC-3 and UC-5 city.
Dr Naeem, candidate of Haq Parast Panel from UC-5 alleged Rangers of supporting Awam Dost Panel candidate and said that MPA, Tariq Masood Arain visited many polling stations with Commandant Indus Rangers in his vehicle.
However, commandant denied and said that MPA was detained for disturbing polling process.
Sattar Qureshi, Nazim candidate of Awam Dost Panel from UC-3 also alleged rivals of conducting firing on his camp.
District Returning Officer, DCO, DPO and Commandant Indus Rangers visited different polling stations of district.
Hashim Bhurgari reports from Badin: Polling for second phase of local body elections was held here peacefully without any major incident of violence in the district.
The main problem for the voters was reported strict checking and arguments by the polling staff over national identity cards which were mostly prepared with many mistakes by the Nadra.
At some polling stations, candidates were found arguing with presiding officers over variations in the electoral lists.
At polling station No.16, UC Badin-II, a complete list of minority voters containing 291 voters was not available with the polling staff, thus voters in a large number were denied to cast their votes.
Devsi Mal, chief agent of Dhana Ram of minority community told Dawn that a large number of voters were in trouble and waiting at polling station premises for the returning officer’s permission which was not granted till 12 noon.
Polling at Kirar Chandio, UC Tando Bago was suspended for an hour following objections raised by the agents over issuance of incomplete ballot papers.
Polling at Qaim Chandio, UC Kadhan was suspended for an hour on the complaint of ADP agents for bogus voting.
A low turnout was witnessed till mid day.
Aziz Malik reports from Matiari: The overall law and order situation in the 19 union councils of Matiari district in the second phase of local body elections on Thursday remained comparatively peaceful although over one dozen persons were injured in clashes between the supporters of different candidates.
According to reports, in UC Hala, Baho Khan Pathan, UC Sekhat and Saeedabad city, ten persons were injured in clashes.
In clashes between the supporters of Makhdoom House and Hala House at the government high school Talibul Moula High school and Vocational High school Talibul Moula polling stations, seven persons received minor injuries.
Three persons were also injured at polling station Mitho Khoso of UC Sekhat in clashes.
Clashes were also reported in UC Matiari between Awam Dost and Jamote Ittehad activists at Misri Jakhrejo polling stations. Several persons were injured at Zerpir polling station, Saeedabad taluka.
Iqbal Khwaja reports from Tando Muhammad Khan: Amid allegations of rigging, firing, clashes, mismanagement and confrontations, 30-40 per cent turnout was witnessed in the newly created district Tando Muhammad Khan in second phase of local bodies elections, held here on Thursday.
This correspondent visited polling stations of UC-I, II and UC-III of taluka Tando Muhammad Khan, polling station No.1 of UC Tando Saindad, polling station boys primary school Saeedpur Takar, UC Lakha polling station Gohram Wassan and a number of others since morning.
All the bogus votes he detected were cast in favour of KPP candidate.
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