HYDERABAD, Aug 26: A number of people, including two candidates of the PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel, have been arrested for causing disturbance at various polling stations during the second phase of local body elections.

Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party chief Dr Qadir Magsi and other party leaders have also been booked under charges of anti-state activity.

The Hala police lodged a case against ex-district nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman and 27 others. About 15 of them have been arrested.

A candidate of ruling PML’s Khushhal Pakistan Panel has also been booked by Pinyari police.

The Market police arrested PPP-backed ADP candidate Jiando Soomro, who was contesting as UC-4 city nazim for inciting people to attack Market police station.

The Pinyari police booked Rana Rashid, a nazim candidate of UC-16 in Khurshid Town vide FIR no 73/05.

Around 15 unidentified people have been booked, none of them was arrested so far. Rana Rashid has been elected as per unofficial result.

The Bhittai Naggar police registered a case of anti-state activity against STPP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, vice chairman Hyder Shahani under section 324 of Qisas and Diyat, 353, 147, 148, 149 PPC and 123-B (defiling and unauthorised removal of national flag) on the complaint of SHO Mir Javed. One dozen other persons have been nominated as co-accused.

The complainant said that the accused barged into the polling station-10, set-up in primary school Bhittai town.

They removed the national flag in the school and when he tried to prevent them one of the accused, Rustam Lashari fired on him and fled.