HYDERABAD, Aug 25: The second phase of local body elections was held amid several incidents of violence and firing and last-minute boycott by candidates of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal-backed Ittehad-i-Millat Group (IMG).

More than 12 people were injured, a police station was attacked, three candidates belonging to the IMG, Qasimabad Awami Ittehad (QAI) and Awam Dost Panel (ADP), were arrested and two MQM leaders were detained by Rangers.

The injured included two activists of the MQM. The others were supporters of the PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel.

Distraught voters sought help from polling staff to ensure correct casting of their votes.

Another cause of worry for voters was inability of polling agents to find their names on electoral rolls which contained old NIC numbers.

The main grievance of voters was that their particulars did not tally with those on voters’ list at the polling stations.

Many voters returned without casting their votes.

There were complaints at some polling stations of Phulelli and Paretabad by IMG-backed candidates that their polling agents were expelled and activists of the MQM were active inside women polling stations.

Polling began one hour late at several places because there were no ink-pads.

In opening hours of polling not a single vote was polled by 9am at polling stations of the city.

Late arrival of polling agents of candidates was another factor.

Chaotic conditions were witnessed at women polling stations of UC-10 where polling staff and voters had to face insanitation and sewage problem inside polling station, set-up in UC-10 Nazim’s office.

“No one from the election commission office has turned up to see under what conditions we are performing our duties”, said a polling officer.

Three polling stations each were set up in single school buildings while three polling booths were created in one room, causing suffocation to polling staff and voters.

The polling stations were under-staffed and presiding officers, especially women, were in a fix to deal with influx of voters.

Illiterate women, mostly in Phulelli and Paretabad areas, were cause of permanent trouble for polling staff as they failed to understand balloting of six ballots and sought help of polling staff.

“Even candidates’ supporters have an easy access here. I am confused how to deal with them”, said a visibly upset presiding officer Shahnaz Khalid at Mirza Qaleech Baig polling station.

Polling process was marred by firing incidents in UC-1 and UC-13 Latifabad, UC-14 city and in Qasimabad taluka.

In UC-13, Latifabad four people including two minor children received bullet injuries whereas an MQM activist, Nadeem Qazi received bullet injuries in Latifabad-5.

His assailant, Hafeez was arrested from JI’s office on station road in a raid by Latifabad police.

Seven MQM activists were admitted to the Bhittai hospital after they received injuries in election-related brawls at different spots.

A PPP activist Naeem Jarwar was severely beaten at women polling station Khabbar Khero of UC-4 Qasimabad taluka.

Abdul Rafiq, Khamiso, Naeem, Yasin and Hazoor Bux were injured in separate scuffles in city and Tandojam.

QAI’s candidate for UC-4 Nazim Deedar Shoro and six others were taken into custody by security forces for resorting to violence outside poling station, witnesses said.

Rangers detained zonal in-charge of the MQM Siraj Rajput and member of the interior Sindh organising committee, Zafar Khan, in Noorani Basti.

Details about their detention could not be ascertained.

Till filing of this report they were not released.

Police resorted to aerial firing and tear-gas shelling after a mob of 700 people in Tando Wali Mohammad UC-4 attacked Market police station to secure release of ADP-candidate Jeando Soomro.

Police and witnesses said he had hit his head against lock-up and door repeatedly, causing injuries on his forehead.

The mob attacked an improvised PS in Jamal Shah-Jo-Par, disrupting polling and taking away ballot boxes.

Armed forces surrounded the area.

Ballot boxes were later found by residents in the area.

Firing incidents were reported in Latifabad-4, Tando Mir Mehmood city taluka and in Doomrah Goth Qasimabad and outside HDA office Qasimabad allegedly by a ruling PML’s Khushhal Pakistan Panel.

PPP leaders Saghir Qureshi and Maula Bux Chandio blamed Khurram Leghari of resorting to firing in Qasimabad in presence of police personnel who looked the other way.

Tension persisted in the American Quarters after heavy firing by miscreants with automatic weapons was reported in UC-13 Latifabad government primary school. Disturbances had been taking place since morning here which turned violent in the evening, witnesses said.

Heavy firing was reported, causing injuries to four persons including minors Zeeshan, Darain, Abdul Hameed and Faheem.

They were admitted to the civil hospital. Zeeshan’s condition was serious.

Army, Rangers and police cordoned of the area as polling was suspended by presiding officer, Tanvir Fatima.

MQM’s election camp was torched in the same area.

Former Nazim UC-13 Dr Saif-ur-Rehman, who is now contesting as IMG candidate, was arrested after he was found in possession of a licensed weapon.

An army official handed him over to police for carrying weapon despite imposition of section 144 CrPC.

Leaders of MMA announced boycott of elections at 4pm at Jamaat-i-Islami office, claiming massive rigging in elections.

MNA Sahibzada Khair Mohammad and MPA Rehman Rajput and MMA’s district president Abdul Waheed Qureshi announced to boycott elections in the city and Latifabad talukas and demanded re-election.

ADP candidate for UC-16 Nazim Manthar Jatoi was reportedly picked up in Khurshid Town by Pinyari police.