HARIPUR, Aug 18: Polling was largely peaceful in most parts of Haripur district during the local body elections on Thursday. Except for a few scuffles between supporters of rival candidates, allegations of rigging and brief suspension of polling at certain polling stations, the process continued uninterrupted.

There were 36 polling stations, including 20 in Khalabat township that had been declared sensitive.

For different categories, 1,406 candidates, including 249 women, were in the run.

Polling started at the scheduled time and continued throughout the day.

The process was suspended at two polling stations of Ban Garam and Alooli of the UC Jati Pind when supporters of a candidate accused a polling officer of stamping ballots of another candidate.

However, the administration called out military personnel and restarted the polling after about an hour.

There were also reports of suspension of the polling for a brief period in the Government High School Mir Pur of UC Pandak. Supporters of a candidate Babar Nawaz allegedly thrashed the supporters of his rival candidate. A police force managed to quell the unrest and arrest the supporters of Babar Nawaz.

Reports of scuffles were received from village Talokar, Geher Khan of UC Pandak and village Shah Mohammad of UC Ali Khan and other UCs.

During a visit to different urban and rural polling stations, overall 35 per cent turn out of voters was noted. In certain areas, it was above 50 per cent and in a few, it remained below 25 per cent. Reports from 8 UCs of Ghazi indicated a low turn out in remote areas till 3pm.

On the complaint of a rival candidate for nazim’s slot from UC Ghazi, Dr Manzoor, Returning Officer Nadeem Mohammad Kan barred PML’s deputy parliamentary leader Faisal Zaman from entering the polling station. He was accused of convincing for his candidate in the polling station.

Polling in some areas delayed by an hour because polling staff came late.