KARACHI, July 11: A large number of Kashmiris living here used their right of franchise on Tuesday for the elections of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

During the polling process that continued from 8am to 5pm, two assistant presiding officers were caught red-handed while casting bogus votes in Manzoor Colony and Akhtar Colony polling stations. They were handed over to the police and FIRs were registered against them.

Returning Officer Syed Saeed Hassan supervised the AJK Legislative Assembly polls in Karachi.

During his visit to the polling station set up at Azmat-i-Islam School, Manzoor Colony, he found Assistant Presiding Officer Shahid Ali casting bogus votes. The assistant presiding officer was handed him over to Baloch Colony police. An FIR (232/2006) against the accused under sections 420, 468 and 471 was lodged.

The same RO when visited Jamea Islamia School polling station set up in Akhtar Colony he caught another Assistant Presiding Officer Rafique red-handed who was casting fake votes. The police were asked to register a case against him also. Mahmoodabad police lodged an FIR against the accused under sections 420, 468 and 471.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui had a detailed visit of the city to review security arrangements.

He visited various areas of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Saddar, Jamshed and other towns and asked TPOs and SHOs concerned to take foolproof security arrangements around the polling stations.

He said that no one would be allowed to take law into his hand. He appealed to the people to hand over anti-social elements to the police or inform the nearest police personnel or post about their activities.

On the occasion, he was told that polling process was continuing peacefully, and there was no report about any unpleasant event from any polling station.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had set up 96 polling stations in different parts of the city for a total 30,554 registered voters, including 26,208 of Jammu and 4,346 of Kashmir valley, who reside in Karachi. The polling started at 8am and continued till 5pm.

According to sources in Provincial Election Commission, a total 118 polling stations were established in different districts of Sindh for total 24,740 registered voters in LA-XXX Jammu while 37 polling stations for 5,973 registered voters in LA-XXXVI, Kashmir Valley.—APP/PPI