ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday alleged serious violations of election rules and rigging in the by-elections in Attock and Tharparkar.

"In the Attock constituency, the HRCP observers did not notice any serious breach of election procedures, except for a few complaints that voting at some polling stations was more free than permissible.

In Tharparkar, complaints of stamping of ballots by people other than voters were more common," says a report of the commission received at the Dawn offices here on Wednesday.

According to the HRCP report, the voter turnout in Attock was around 30 per cent and a little higher in Tharparkar. "However, in Tharparkar, the establishment obviously went for overkill and seemed determined to show a higher turnout in a by-election than in general elections," it says.

The report said: "The government on Wednesday completed an important stage in the implementation of its new scheme of governance by getting the prime minister chosen by it, Shaukat Aziz, elected MNA from Attock and Tharparkar. Meanwhile, the people witnessed a process that did not quite amount to a free and fair expression of the voters will."

The report said: "Although the whole country had been prepared by the official media for an expected victory of the ruling party candidate and the state of the opposition's health did not encourage any different view, the HRCP decided to observe the by-election in both constituencies in order to keep itself abreast of innovations in modern electoral management."

The report said the election was held in a normal manner that was in the manner elections were held in constituencies known to be family fiefs of the privileged. "In Tharparkar, not all the polling agents of the official candidate or voters spoke of him while they affirmed loyalty to the local political lord who happens to be the chief minister of the province."

According to the report, the HRCP observers received all required facilities and cooperation from the Election Commission and the local administration. The HRCP said security forces were visible in both the constituencies in extraordinarily great strength. While this made for peaceful polling, it also had the effect of dissuading opposition voters from coming out.