11 killed in rival clash in Pakistan’s local body polls

“Eleven people were killed when two groups opened fire”, police deputy inspector general Kamran Fazal told Reuters.

Quarrels were reported in Sindh as well where polling was suspended at Ali Nawazpur polling station in Jacobabad where as a result of a quarrel vehicles were also damaged.

It is noted that polling is under way in eight districts of Sindh province for the local government election.

Voters lined up outside polling stations on Saturday as voting for the first phase of the much-delayed local body polls in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces.

The government has called in army troops to control the situation, local media reported. Despite violence polling went ahead and was completed in majority of places at 5.30 pm and counting of votes had started.

Over 25 million citizens will exercise their right to elect local govenment (LG) representatives in 12 districts of Punjab and eight of Sindh.

Shahbaz Sharif ordered indiscriminate action against those candidates or their companions who would be involved in aerial firing on their success in elections.

Khairpur Sindh polling stations were allegedly taken over by PML (Functional) and workers of Pir of Pagaro Sharif and ruling party PPP was helpless to protect its candidates.

The designated election officials on Friday handed over material for their respective polling stations, including ballot boxes, lists and ballots under the watchful eye of the Punjab police.

Over 20 million people are registered to vote in Punjab and 4.6 million in Sindh.

This is first time Local Bodies elections are being held on party basis in Pakistan to place basic democracy at grass root level through political parties. Of them, 1,558 candidates will contest on 392 seats in Sukkur district, 2,664 candidates on 111 seats in Khairpur, and 971 candidates on 447 seats in Ghotki district. Rangers have been deployed at sensitive polling stations while army remains on standby.