ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar said on Thursday that killings on the election day were not poll related as none of the incidents occurred on the premises of a polling station.

“These killings cannot be described as polls related as either these occurred due to enmity or scuffles between rivals’ supporters,” he said at a press conference.

“According to our information, 22 killings have been reported but none of the incidents occurred within any polling station’s premises,” he stated.

The Election Commission was only responsible for an incident occurring within the polling station premises, he said, adding that if anyone killed somebody due to quarrel or enmity on the election day, it could not be termed polls related killing.

Four people were killed in Lahore, three in Sheikhupura, two in Narowal, one in Hafizabad, two in Jhang, one in Okara, two in Jhelum, three in Larkana, two in Kohistan, one in Lower Dir and one woman in Rawalpindi.

“All the incidents occurred outside the polling stations premises and away from candidates election camps and in some cases people had old enmity,” Justice Dogar said.

The two people killed in Masdakhel union council in Kohistan district were proclaimed offenders and one killed in Lower Dir had an enmity, he said, adding that the three people killed in Larkana had tribal enmity. A woman in Rawalpindi was hit by a stray bullet and two people in Punjab were killed in aerial firing in jubilation on winning the election.

He said the Kohistan incident reportedly occurred at 7am before the start of polling and according to the NWFP police chief all those involved in the killing incidents had been arrested. Similar reports had been received from other places, he said.

Justice Dogar said it was not the responsibility of the Election Commission to provide security to supporters in polling camps as those were set up outside the polling stations.

“The Election Commission cannot be held responsible for incidents occurring in areas that do not fall in the jurisdiction of the polling stations,” he said.

In reply to a question, the acting CEC said the voters’ turnout was tentatively estimated at around 60 per cent. He said the turnout in Sindh could be 40 to 45 per cent. The turnout in Balochistan had not yet been received, he said.

However, election in Balochistan was reported to be peaceful, he said.

About allegations of rigging, he said: “These are rumours and disinformation.”

“I visited selected polling stations in Punjab and Sindh and nobody complained about rigging,” he said.

He rejected charges of kidnapping of people in Hyderabad.

Replying to a question, he said the gazette notification of the results of the second phase of the elections would be issued on the due date.

He said elections in areas where women had not been allowed to vote would be declared null and void as was done for the first phase.—APP