LAHORE: The Punjab police lodged on Thursday 25 FIRs against the violators and arrested 73 workers of various political parties in connection with local body elections held in 12 districts of the province.

According to a statement issued by Punjab IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, the police were discharging duties to ensure transparent elections.

The IGP was told that the FIRs were lodged against the poll code violators on the complaints of police and presiding officers.

Of the 73 suspects arrested by the police, 28 were of PML-N, 18 of PTI and 27 others. As many as 27 were arrested in Hafizabad, 18 in Sheikhupura and nine in Gujranwala districts.

The IGP said 45 people received minor injuries due to scuffles. Of them, 27 were of PML-N, and nine of PTI.

Police also recovered five illegal weapons from people.

Mr Sukhera said owing to additional deployment of 5,410 personnel for second shift to cover elections, security situation remained under control in all 12 districts.

He said 1,815 licenced weapons and 16,507 surety bonds were collected from candidates in order to avoid the incidence of firing, the IGP said.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015