| Democracy in action. I am so impressed. The people have spoken, and what they said was "Hrrraaaarrr! Take that, yew varmint!" |
 At least 13 people were killed and 234 injured in clashes between supporters of rival candidates in the local government elections on Thursday. Security was beefed up for the first round of the three-phase elections in 53 districts across Pakistan, with some 35,000 policemen, 10,500 paramilitary troops and 40,000 soldiers deployed to guard polling stations and voters.
| And one hell of a job they're doing, with only 13 dead and 234 maimed... |
Polling was held from 8am to 5pm in 17 districts in Punjab, 10 in Sindh, 12 in the NWFP and 14 in Balochistan at 31,000 polling stations in the presence of 450,000 polling staff. Polling in the remaining 56 districts will be held on August 25. Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said despite the pockets of violence âthe polls have largely been peacefulâ.
| Except for this lard gut and my ham-like thighs, I'm really quite slender, too... |
The chief election commissioner said voter turnout was close to 50 percent.
| The other half of the voting population was inside, quivering with fear... |
- Three people were killed and 12 injured when supporters of rival candidates opened fire at each other in Dharmakhel UC, Bannu district, NWFP.
- Eleven people were injured in Hassam UC, DI Khan, when PPPP and JUI-Fazl supporters clashed.
- Two people were injured in Swabi.
- PML activist Anjum Iqbal was shot dead in firing at a polling station in Shorkot village, UC-25, Multan. Three others were injured.
- Fifteen were injured in a clash in UC-11, Multan.
- Two people were killed and 15 injured when rival groups opened fire at Khyali Gate, Gujarnwala.
- Ten people were injured in a clash in a polling station in UC-42, Gujranwala.
- The Gujranwala district returning officer later told reporters that polling at UC-68/32, Khiali Sharpur, and UC-168, Nowshera Virkan, had been postponed because of the violence.
"Sorry! We hafta postpone the polling!"
"Why, dammit? I wanted to vote!"
"Everybody's out of ammunition right now!" |
- PPP activist Muhammad Afzal was killed when rival groups opened fire on each other outside a polling station in Seokey village in Daska tehsil.
- Two deaths were reported in Toba Tek Singh and one in Muzaffargarh.
- Eight people were injured in clashes at UC-182 and UC-73 in Muzaffargarh.
- Twenty-three people were reported injured in election violence in Sahiwal, four at UC-23, Bhalwal, seven at a government school in Chak 9G/6K, two at a polling station in Dasora, and nine in other election-related violence in Punjab.
- Fifty people were hurt as rival groups clashed in a polling booth at UC-100, Manchanabad, Bahawalnagar, Online reported.
The Punjab home secretary said only five people were killed and around 50 were injured in the province.
| "Yep. Been pretty quiet around here!" |
- In Balochistan, three people were killed and 19 injured as Jamali and Imrani tribesmen clashed after two hours of polling in Dera Allah Yar tehsil, Jaffarabad. The Frontier Corps were called in to control the situation.
- Three people were injured in a clash between rival groups in Bedar UC, Nasirabad district.
- A bomb exploded at a school in Khuzdar district, but no casualties were reported.
- Three workers of the PPP-Patriots were injured in firing in Malsi, Karachi, Online reported.
- Thirty-eight people were injured in violence Kandhkot, Kashmore, Jacobabad and Tangwani in Sindh.
There were reports of electoral irregularities from across the country. - In Peshawar, a Watan Dost group candidate allegedly attacked the presiding officer of Sheikhan Junaiabad UC as she was taking the ballot boxes to the returning officer, and stole the boxes.
- The Peshawar district returning officer had former Town-1 nazim Haroon Bilour arrested after he got into an argument with the DRO.
- MMA supporters allegedly smashed three ballot boxes in Aza Khel Bala, Nowshera.
- A scuffle between rival candidates over fake votes suspended voting at a womenâs polling station in Banamari UC for four hours.
- Police in Karachi arrested the presiding officer posted at Government Women College Shahrah-e-Liaqat for casting fake votes, APP reported.
- Opposition groups boycotted polls at UC-7, Saddar Town, in Karachi in protest at alleged fake votes for MQM-backed candidates and firing at opposition supporters, Online reported.
- Groups of men stormed polling stations in UC-38 and UC-78 in Multan, beat up staff and tore up electoral lists.
- Polling at UC-64 was stopped at 4pm after female polling agents were kidnapped.
- The presiding officer at UC-94 asked the RO to summon army assistance after candidate Moni Shah, a former MPA, and his supporters allegedly beat up their rivals.
- Some 650 fake national identity cards were seized from a womenâs polling station and a house in Multan. One man was arrested while the other three escaped.
- Ballot papers, stamps and other material were reported stolen from a polling station in Gopipur village, Salhokey UC, Daska tehsil.
- Ten armed men stormed a polling station in Pasrur tehsil and stole ballot boxes.
- In UC-146, Sargodha, PML activists allegedly kidnapped a female polling agent and removed a ballot box.
- A PPP leader in Barkhan, Balochistan, complained that voter lists had been manipulated so opposition supporters couldnât find which polling station they were supposed to vote at.
Chief Election Commissioner Abdul Hameed Dogar conducted surprise visits of several polling stations and expressed satisfaction with the polling process and security arrangements.
| "Yup. Everything looks normal here..." |
Online reported that foreign observers were also âsatisfiedâ.
| Except for the corpses, of course... |
Punjab Election Commissioner Rahim Nawaz Durrani said exact figures were being compiled, but turnout was close to 50 percent. Leaders of the PPP, PML-N and MMA in Punjab complained of âwidespread riggingâ and intimidation of their candidates. Turnout was lower in Sindh. The provincial home secretary said there had been a 40 to 45 percent turnout in Karachi, 40 percent in interior Sindh and 30 percent in Umar Kot and Jacobabad. Election Commission sources said that notification of official results would be issued in a couple of days, but unofficial results have already started coming in. The JI-backed Al Khidmat group reportedly won five UC nazim seats in Karachi. |