A total of 14,685,822 voters are registered in 12 districts of Punjab and 8,005,200 in Sindh.
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The ECP had received 56 complaints of irregularities and mismanagement at the polling stations, mostly from Mianwali, Sargodha, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh. Complaints may be lodged on the telephone numbers 051-9210816, 051-9210817 and 051-9210818.
In contrast to reports of people carrying their womenfolk to polling stations to get their votes cast, Liliani, a small town of Sargodha district, maintained its tradition of barring women from using their right to franchise.
A Union Council (UC) aspirant in Naushero Feroze has filed a complaint with the ECP control room alleging that ballot papers were being stamped since the previous night.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is leading in Punjab and Pakistan People’s party (PPP) in Sindh in the 2nd phase of Local Government Elections, according to early results on Thursday.
Each of the 14 districts has one district council apiece and each UC has four wards. According to the Election Commission the polls were postponed in compliance with the directives of the Supreme Court. Large number of policemen has been deployed for security during second phase of the LG polls in Punjab and the Rangers personnel have been deployed outside and inside the polling stations.
ECP spokesman said that they however have not received any formal complaint from any political party. In Sindh, the PPP was dominant but not at the same ratio as in the first phase. The PPP was nearly wiped out in the city of Badin.
The Sindh government earlier chose to form a Rapid Deployment Force to handle trouble spots and also to launch an operation against history-sheeters, criminals, miscreants and absconders to ensure peaceful conduct during elections.
It was decided that a ban on keeping weapons would also be enforced 48 hours before the start of polling.
No serious violence was reported from anywhere during or after polling, but sporadic incidents of clashes between rival parties and groups contesting the elections as well as between the supporters of the contestants and police continued to pour in throughout the day.
Similarly, Zulfiqar Gondal, brother of former Federal Minister Nazar Gondal faced defeat at the hands of PML-N candidate Tanveer Javaid, in Mandi Bahaudddin Union Council (UC) 67.
A man in Gujranwala’s UC-53 was injured after two rival political party’s fought with each other, DawnNews reported.
No women has been allowed to cast vote in Union COuncil Paikhel in Mianwali after an informal agreement between all contestants.
At least 25 people were reported to have sustained injuries during poll-related clashes while police took scores into custody.
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Director General Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Major General Bilal Akbar visited Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad reviewing the security arrangements at various polling stations with the local administration.
