10 killed in KP election-related violence

PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA: Ten people were killed and several others injured in election-related incidents of violence as overall polling remained peaceful in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
It is learnt that the first firing incident took place at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sherpao polling station where three persons, including two workers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) were killed when two rival groups opened fire.
Security forces also arrested JUI-F district General Secretary Mufti Gohar Shah along with his associates in connection with the firing incident.
Afzal Khan, a worker of the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), and Alamzeb, a candidate for a youth councillor seat, were killed when QWP and Awami National Party (ANP) activists reportedly clashed at the Government High School, Mandani polling station. A man identified as Ismail was injured in the incident. He was taken to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.
Also, two brothers were killed at Cheena polling station in the limits of Umarzai police station. They were identified as Maqsood Jan and Murad Khan. The son of Maqsood Jan, whose name couldn’t be known, was injured in the incident.
Separately, two women were injured at a polling station in Hajizai.
A few clashes were reported in the provincial capital and other districts where troops and heavy contingents of police and Frontier Constabulary rushed to bring the situation under control.
As many as 30 people were wounded in different clashes in Kakshal, Nasapa, Bhanamari, Takhtabad and other localities in Peshawar.
There were reports that one person was also killed in clashes but it could not be officially confirmed.
Clashes were also reported in Hazarkhwani, Musazai, Khazana and other areas.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan said he was relieved after fulfilling the promise of devolution.
“The Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition government stands on high moral ground for fulfilling the promise of LG elections,” said the KP minister, who belongs to the JI.
In many places, clashes triggered between two or more groups mostly at women’s polling stations.
More females polled their votes not only in Peshawar but also in many other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Three persons were injured when two groups traded fire in Kakshal. The injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital.
Besides army, senior officials of the Peshawar police arrived immediately at the spot to defuse tension.
Others were injured in clashes in Nasapa, Khazana and other areas. A clash was witnessed between the workers of two political groups in Musazai due to which polling remained suspended for some time.
However, heavy contingents of police and army rushed to take control of the situation.
Clashes between political workers of two parties were also witnessed in Karimpura and Wadpaga areas.
The polling staff was said to be made hostage during a clash between two groups.
A scuffle and firing incidents were also reported in Mathra area outside the female polling station in which one person was injured and taken to hospital.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani took notice of the election-related incidents of violence and directed the police high-ups to register first information reports against the accused.
An official of KP police said there was a need for 110,000 personnel for the security of polling stations in the province.
Apart from around 75,000 cops, 20,000 employees of other departments, 3,000 FC personnel and another 1000 cops from the Azad Kashmir Police were deployed for security.
The IGP had directed the cops to ensue payment to all those transporters whose vehicles were hired.
Upgraded security arrangements were made all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the polls following threats that militants could carry out sabotage attacks. Police had been put on high alert for the last almost two weeks.
Officials said bomb disposal units, Rapid Response Force, Quick Response Force and police all over the province remained alert to respond in case of any untoward incident.
KOHAT: A man was killed and 11 others, including seven women, were injured in incidents of violence in Ferozai, Gandyalia and Shakardara areas in the district.
The slain man was the brother of a candidate for the general councillor seat.
Two polling stations were also set on fire in Shakardara.
It was learnt that angry protesters thrashed the election staff at the Government Girls Primary School, Shakardara polling station.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Eight people were injured in various incidents of violence in the district.
Reports said three people sustained injuries when PTI and PML-N workers scuffled in Lachra Union Council.
Two people were injured in the Hassam area while three others suffered wounds when supporters of three candidates clashed at the Government Higher Secondary School in Dera city.
HARIPUR: At least six persons were injured in a clash at Seriyan Dharam Pani polling station in Serai Niamat Khan Union Council in the district.
Reports said a group led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for district council Shaukat Taj Awan and independent candidate Malik Muhammad Younas Awan, former nazim of Serai Niamat Khan Union Council, clashed with each other.
Six people sustained injuries in the clash when the two groups exchanged fire.
The injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital from where one Ghulam Mustafa was referred to a hospital in Abbottabad.
HANGU: A cop sustained injuries as unidentified miscreants hurled a hand-grenade polling station in Bogha Union Council in the district, officials said.
They said miscreants lobbed a hand-grenade into a polling station at the Primary School No.2 in Bogha. A constable, Inam Badshah, was injured in the attack.
Nasrullah, a JUI-F candidate for tehsil council seat was also injured in a clash with the PTI workers.
NNI adds: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the mismanagement witnessed across the province during the daylong polling.
“We put the whole administration at the disposal of the ECP. Our job was to support and facilitate the Election Commission as per laws,” Khattak said.
The election wasn’t conducted by the provincial government, he explained, adding that he could not interfere in the ECP’s job.
The chief minister said the government would implement if the ECP took any decision on complaints of rigging or barring women from casting vote.
He, however, rejected reports that women were stopped from voting in Nowshera.
“Women came out to vote in large numbers and it was the ECP’s responsibility to facilitate them,” he said.