HYDERABAD, May 2: The by-election for National Assembly’s NA-219 seat on Tuesday was marked by low turnout and a few unpleasant incidents. The by-electoin was held for the seat which had fallen vacant following the death of Prof Khalid Wahab of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The one-to-one contest was between MQM’s Mohammad Pervez Qureshi and Ali Mohammad Sehto of the PPP.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal boycotted the polls while the PML-N withdrew its candidate in favour of Mr Sehto.

Most of polling stations attracted a small number of voters and polling staff kept waiting for voters.

The election commission failed to provide ink pads for stamping the ballots and polling staff purchased their own pads.

Changes in polling stations were made and MQM’s candidate also made one such complaint.

At some polling stations, staff performed duty under shabby conditions and without any furniture.

No vote was cast at the polling booth-3 of the polling station-61 set up in the Government Ghazali College.

Only five votes had been cast at two other booths of the polling station by 3pm.

Percentage of voters at some other polling stations was found to be more than 50 at closing hours of polling in Latifabad-2.

The polling was suspended at the workshop polling station in the American Quarters when supporters of contesting parties scuffled with each other.

In Adan Noonari village, about six people were injured when two groups clashed with each other.

The injured were identified as Mohammad Khan and his brother Yar Mohammad, Haq Nawaz, Nek Mohammad, Ayaz, Mehbooba Khatoon and Zohra.

Police remained silent spectator and both the groups hurled bricks at each other and used sticks and bricks during the clash.

PPP supporters Mohammad Siddique, Yar Mohammad and Mohammad Khan alleged that they had been manhandled and beaten up by workers of the MQM.

One book containing 100 ballots and one stamp went missing at PS-135 in Shah Makki Ismail Kalhoro village after two unidentified people entered polling station at 4pm.

Newsmen faced hardships in securing election duty passes from the returning officer of the NA-219 seat.

Most journalists covered by-elections without the passes.

There were also complaints of defective voters’ lists as some voters could not find their name in lists.

Voters were seen bringing chits from election camps but their serial numbers did not tally with those on the voters lists and they did not cast their votes.

Hot words were exchanged between PPP candidate Ali Mohammad Sehto and the polling officer of polling station set up in the Government Girls Middle School Noonari village.

Mr Sehto also traded hot words with a police officer.

According to presiding officer of the poling station, Mr Sehto was pressurising polling officer which led to the unpleasant situation.

The polling staff performed their duty under poor conditions.

At the Khalid Memorial Old Primary School, American Quarters, three polling stations were set up including two for women.

The polling staff did not have chairs and tables to ensure smooth polling.

No drinking water arrangements were made there.