ISLAMABAD, June 9: The Election Commission on Wednesday declared null and void the May 12 by-polls results of two national and one provincial assembly seats in Karachi for 'grave illegalities' and ordered fresh by-elections on August 9.

However, the commission declared MQM candidate Abdul Waseem winner from constituency NA-243. The results of these constituencies were declared null and void: NA-240, NA-246 and PS-127.

"We are satisfied that the sanctity of the polls in constituencies NA-240, NA-246 and PS-127 during the by-elections was vitiated by grave illegalities, the violation of the law, rules and the instructions issued from time to time by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Irshad Hasan Khan," held a 40-page order issued after the conclusion of a summary inquiry.

The commission asked the Sindh administration to ensure foolproof arrangements on the polling day to prevent any untoward incident and even seek the army's help to maintain law and order during the by-elections on August 9.

Through a separate notification, the commission appointed district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers for holding of August 9 by-elections.

Earlier, the CEC had withheld the official results of by-elections for three national and one provincial assembly seats in Karachi pending an inquiry that had been launched into the allegations of illegalities and violence during the May 12 by-polls.

The commission asked the Sindh government to identify sensitive and trouble-prone areas in NA-240, NA-246 and PS-127 and check evil and corrupt practices of booth capturing, intimidation, harassment of voters, and destroying the sanctity of the ballot box.

The commission told the authorities to impose a ban on display of arms in the three constituencies, 15 days before and after the polling day to ensure free, fair and transparent by-elections.

"Clearly, the admitted act of indiscriminate firing resulting into killing of eight or nine persons and injuries to 29 persons in these constituencies amounts to an illegal interference with the free exercise of the right of franchise of the electorate," the commission observed.

Dr Qazi Khalid Ali, additional advocate-general Sindh; Anwar Haider, additional chief secretary, Karachi; Syed Pir Ali Shah, district and sessions judge, Karachi Central; Mrs Naseem Mansoor, first additional district and sessions judge, Karachi Central; and Muhammad Azeem, second senior civil judge, Karachi Central, appeared before the inquiry while Iqbal Qadri, advocate, represented the MQM candidates.