KARACHI, Aug 19: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has estimated that the voters’ turnout in the first phase of the local body election in Sindh was over 38 per cent while at some places, it may have been even higher.

Addressing a press conference at the CM’s House here on Friday, he pointed out that some candidates were elected as nazim by securing five to seven thousand votes whereas some others won this slot by securing just 500 to 900 votes. If the claims of rigging were true, then they would have secured higher number of votes, he argued.

He expressed his satisfaction over law and order during the election process, and declared that the polls had been held in a free, fair and transparent manner, with the exception of some minor incidents.

In Karachi, he said, the law and order situation remained ‘outstanding’, totally nullifying the apprehensions expressed by a PPP leader, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who had advised people to take extreme care while going to cast their vote.

“Some other political leaders had also warned of bloodshed in Karachi, but people saw that there was no loss of life,” he said, adding: “However, in the pre-election days, a PML(F)-backed candidate had lost his life at the hands of PPP activists in Mirpurkhas and cases were registered against the assailants.”

The chief minister recalled that in the 2001 elections, two persons were killed and 56 injured whereas in the by-elections later, the violence-related casualties were 11 dead and over 50 injured.

He maintained that prompt action had been taken when a couple of cases of rigging were reported.

He claimed that more violence had taken place in Kandhkot where supporters of Awam Dost panel took away ballot boxes. “This was done by those who were so loudly clamouring against rigging.

He said that the opposition had started raising a hue and cry six months before the elections but no rigging and bloodshed took place.

Dr Arbab described the PPP’s claim of 12 per cent turnout as ‘ridiculous’.

He told a questioner that candidates of Khushhal Pakistan panel had secured more seats in interior Sindh while Haq Parast panel emerged triumphant in Karachi.

When his comment was sought on the MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar’s visit to the JI office, Idara Noor-i-Haq, the chief minister termed it ‘a welcome gesture’, and recalled that after becoming chief minister, he had gone to the side of PPP leaders.

“Dr Farooq Sattar’s visit will prove the first step towards development of this city,” he remarked.

In reply to another question, he said he would certainly visit the Bilawal House if invited.

Regarding action against rigging, he told journalists that if an SHO in Kandhkot had been arrested by the army for rigging, action would certainly follow.

The chief minister said that the Khushhal Pakistan Panel had registered an impressive victory in Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Thatta districts.

When asked about the provincial government’s strategy for development in the backdrop of the pro-government panel’s victory, Dr Arbab said that such a strategy would be chalked out after election of nazims.

“If good nazims came up, they will get the support of provincial and federal governments and this, in turn, will result in an improvement in the condition of Sindh people.”

Replying to a question, he said that the technical mistakes made in the delimitation of Ghotki district, where elections had to be postponed, would be rectified.

In reply to another question, he said that information about the outgoing nazims’ conduct had been collected and this process would continue even after takeover by the new nazims. If anyone was found involved in irregularities, he would certainly be held accountable, he added.—APP