PESHAWAR: The election commission of Pakistan has postponed voting in Bakakhel Tehsil of Bannu over deteriorated law and order situation.
According to the Election Commission, the District Returning Officer (DRO) Bannu and the District Police Officer (DPO) has informed the election commission about unfortunate incidents at polling stations and deteriorated law and order situation. Chief Election Commissioner formed three-member committee. The election controversy erupted in the area when the masked men stormed the polling stations and looted the polling material, last night.
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Controversy in Peshawar
The Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates have accused the ruling party of election rigging. The controversy erupted when the ballot papers arrived at the polling station a day before election. The protesters entered the school and chanted slogans against the government, saying that the government machinery is being used in the election process. The protesters alleged that stamped ballot papers have arrived to the polling stations. The PPP has also registered FIR against ruling party politicians. The police claimed to have arrested the presiding officer of Tehsil Gor Khatri School and removed him from the election process.
Two people, including a policeman, were injured in a stampede at the Government Primary School Shah Alam polling station in Peshawar. SP Security Muhammad Nabil Khokhar accompanied by a heavy contingent reached the relevant polling station. Khokhar said that people were creating chaos by not standing in queues and police were trying their best to provide peaceful atmosphere in the election process.
Khyber
Polling was halted at different polling stations in Khyber District due to disorder and stampede at Sheikh Mill Khel in Khyber. According to police, in another polling station, in Landi Kotal Tehsil, political workers alleging rigging, entered the polling station and destroyed polling material. Similarly at Tehsil Jamrud VC-1, political workers also entered the polling station and chanted slogans against the election staff and government.
In Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber, polling was stopped at Government Khan Mast Kali Safirabad due to allegations of alleged rigging at the women’s polling station. Assistant Commissioner Jawad Hussain and a large contingent of police have arrived.