LAHORE: As many as 20 people were injured in sporadic incidents of violence all over Punjab during election/polling day on Thursday.

The major incident occurred in Talagang of Chakwal where four persons were shot at and injured during an armed clash between two groups. However, the police claimed it was not an election-related incident, but a result of an enmity between the two groups.

The injured people were rushed to a local hospital where the condition of one of them was said to be serious.

The elections were held amid heightened security measures in Punjab where over 130,000 police personnel were deputed other than the army, Rangers and officers of other law-enforcement agencies.

In the three-tier security, the Punjab Police were assigned the leading role followed by the Rangers and the army.

According to the reports emerging from various parts of the province, most of the people were injured in physical clashes between voters / workers of the rival political parties, including PML-N and PTI, amid accusations of the rigging.

In Rahim Yar Khan, five people were injured during a clash between PPP and PML-N workers at a polling station of Chak 171-P in Sadiqabad tehsil.

The reports said the polling process was in progress for NA-174, Rahim Yar Khan VI, in Chak 171-P when some PPP workers entered the polling station with a party flag. As a result, a clash took place when the workers of the rival party objected.

During the scuffle, PPP polling agent Muhammad Ameen and other persons were injured who were later shifted to the THQ Hospital, Sadiqabad.

In PP-174, Lahore, a clash occurred between the workers/voters of PML-N candidate Bilal Yasin and his rival contestant, Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar. However, no injury to anyone was reported as the police acted promptly and increased deployment to defuse tension.

In Sheikhupura, the polling was suspended for some 15 minutes or so when voters of two political parties scuffled at Khairpur Mallyan village.

The police reached the spot, intensified deployment and patrolling and controlled the situation by arresting some of the suspects.

No injury was reported in the incident, the police said, adding the polling process resumed later amid tight security measures.

Similarly, a scuffle broke out between the supporters of the PML-N and the PTI in NA-49, Attock, leading to temporary suspension of voting at two polling stations.

The police controlled the situation by increasing security measures.

“Elections remained largely peaceful as only seven minor incidents of election-related fights were reported,” Additional IG (operations) Shahzada Sultan told Dawn.

He said 20 people were injured in violence incidents with no death reported in any part of the province.Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar said the control rooms of the Punjab Police established at the provincial, regional and district levels reviewed the election process and all situations moment by moment.

More than 32,000 CCTV cameras were used to monitor the election process, he said, adding the regional, city and district police officers remained present in the field and kept reviewing the security and traffic arrangements.

He said under a comprehensive strategy for election security, the police officers remained in contact with all institutions, including security agencies, armed forces, and the district administration.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2024