Allegations and counter-allegations of rigging, an eleventh-hour boycott by a ten-party alliance candidate against MQM, mismanagement inside polling stations, closure of a polling station in NA-220 city, and the presence of ‘outsiders’ in female polling stations were some highlights of the election in Hyderbad and its surrounding areas.

Apparently, polling remained by and large peaceful in Hyderabad and Matiari, barring two separate firing incidents in which one person was injured in unit-8 Latifabad at an election camp.

There were violations of ECP’s code of conduct too. For instance, no election camp was to be established or transport to be provided to voters. But these violations of these two rules were quite visible. At some places such camps were seen within 400 yards of a polling station. Voters were also brought to polling stations in rickshaws and cars provided by candidates’ supporters.

For more on this story, click here.