KHAIRPUR, Aug 27: Former District Nazim Nafisa Shah has said that the local body elections were rigged by government-backed candidates with the connivance of police. Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, she condemned the acting chief election commissioner for describing the polls as fair, free and transparent.

She said if the CEC had visited the district we could have shown him ballot papers found in a huge number outside polling stations.

She alleged that ADP candidates including men and women were beaten up, intimidated and detained in different talukas.

Ms Shah said the army and Rangers were not deployed at sensitive polling station in the district.

As a result, heavily armed gangs of criminals along with police and workers of the PML-F occupied polling stations and stuffed bogus votes into ballot boxes.

She said returning officers visited more than 10 polling stations and saw SHOs, DSPs, presiding officers and candidates of the KDP stamping ballot papers.

She said results had not been announced even on the third day of elections which were being changed.

She said there was massive rigging in which government officials of police, revenue and education department were involved.

She claimed two people were killed in poll-related violence in the district.

Ms Shah identified the deceased as Mohammad Umer who was shot dead at point-blank range in UC Saghiyoon and Sher Mohammad who suffered heart attack when some outlaws opened fire in UC Sabar Rind.

She said at some polling stations it was technical rigging where polling staff was instructed to declare votes of ADP candidates invalid by using thumb impressions on ballot paper or tear or use ink or pen marks on them.

She said high police authorities did not take cognisance of the situation.

She said women polling stations were largely targeted and many PPP agents were beaten, locked and harassed in UC Saghiyoon and UC Sabar Rind by men intruders who then stuffed bogus votes.

She said police conducted raids on residences of nazim-elect Bakht Ali Dahote on Friday night and ADP candidate Munir Mangi.

She said a case had been registered against nazim candidate of the UC Saghiyoon.