HYDERABAD, Sept 2: Fresh polls will be held in seven polling stations of Hyderabad and Tando Mohammad Khan districts on Saturday. Hyderabad DRO Zaheeruddin S. Leghari on August 26 had urged the election commission that fresh polls be held in seven polling stations, four of Hyderabad city taluka and three of Tando Mohammad Khan district.

The election commission was urged in the wake of complaints of bogus voting, rigging and forced snatching of ballot boxes, ballots, stamps and other election material in the second phase of local body elections on August 25.

The DRO sent communication under Rule 25(2) of the Sindh Local Government Election Rules 2005 to the Provincial Election Commission after he received complaints of rigging from different returning officers of Hyderabad and Tando Mohammad Khan district where electoral process was marred by violence and complaints of rigging at polling stations.

Fresh polls will be held in polling station no-11 of UC Saeed Matto, Bulri Shah Karim taluka, PS-31 Sobho Chandio of UC Ghulam Shah Bagrani and PS-12 of UC-3 Tando Mohammad Khan city, improvised PS-43 (men) and improvised women PS-54 of UC-4 taluka city, PS-195 (men) and PS-199 (men) of UC 16 of the taluka.

The third additional district and sessions judge, Mr Manzoor Hussain, the RO for UC-4 submitted complaint to the DRO that in two PSs of UC-4 polling came to an end after unidentified people forced their entry into improved PS-43 (men) Silawat Mohalla and PS-54 (women) Jamal Shah-jo-Pir.

They took away ballot boxes, stamps and other election material during closing hours of polling.

An identical complaint was made by the sixth additional district and sessions judge, Mrs Munawar Sultana, the RO for UC-16 taluka city who informed the DRO that a group of people barged into the PS-195 and PS-199 of the UC at around 1:45 pm and 2:15 pm, respectively.

She said they snatched ballots, ballot boxes and other material meant for polling.

She said an FIR had also been registered with police station concerned against miscreants.

The ROs of the PS-11 of UC Saeed Matto Bulri Shah Karim taluka complained that the polling staff including presiding officer Kanjhi Mal did not reach polling station whereas in PS-31 of Sobho Chandio a mob entered PS, disallowing entry even to the RO and voters.

The RO claimed polling staff had cast bogus votes at the PS while eligible voters were denied entry.

The RO said PS-12 of UC-3 Tando Mohammad Khan city, a candidate for UC Nazim Khalil Memon found ballot boxes, filled with polled votes including 610 for seat of nazim and 234 of other categories.

The PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel candidates for UC-4, Jiando Soomro and UC-16 Manthar Jatoi and others were booked in separate criminal cases, lodged at Market and Pinyari police stations of the Hyderabad city taluka on August 25.

The Market police station was attacked on the day in UC-4 for which a case was lodged and Jiando Soomro had been arrested.

The Pinyari police lodged separate cases against ADP candidate of nazim Manthar Jatoi and Khushhal Pakistan panel nazim Rana Rashid following disturbances in Khurshid town of UC-16.