HYDERABAD, March 28: A low turnout of voters, scuffles and complaints of interference by officials marked the local government by-elections held in Sindh on Sunday.

Majority of voters did not show any interest in the polls which was visible from their turnout that remained five per cent at its lowest and 20 per cent at its highest in different constituencies. Only in Thatta district, the turnout was recorded between 30 and 35 per cent.

The Mutahidda Qaumi Movement, which had earlier boycotted the local government election, made its presence felt by activating its cadre. In the Hyderabad district, aerial firing took place outside a polling station where candidates objected to the entry of MQM's Sindh Health Minister Naeem Ishtiaq.

Five candidates of the People's Party Parliamentarians-backed Awam Dost Panel boycotted the polls in the Dadu district. In Thatta, a turnout of 30 to 35 per cent was reported where the polling process remained smooth.

Six persons suffered injuries during a scuffle in Jacobabad. In Hyderabad, two separate incidents marred the otherwise smooth polling process in the Qasimabad taluka.

Lack of interest among electorate in polls was evident from the slow pace of polling as majority of polling stations in City, Qasimabad and Latifabad talukas wore a deserted look.

Turnout varied from five per cent to 20 per cent in different polling stations. The by-election was held in 23 union councils of the Hyderabad district.

Witnesses said an unpleasant incident took place between PPP-backed Naeem Jarwar and Essa Shoro, son of union council-3 Nazim Deedar Shoro, and others in the Doomrah Bagri village outside polling station-I as they exchanged hot words.

In another incident, aerial firing was reported at closing time outside the Government Primary School, New Wahdat Colony, where a scuffle took place between supporters of Mehboob Abro and Khurram Leghari.

It could not be confirmed which side had resorted to firing. The Qasimabad TPO denied that firing had taken place. Four candidates were in the field on one seat of councillor in union council-3 of Qasimabad.

MQM activists were quite active in union council-9 of the City taluka to ensure good turnout of voters where Faheem Baig is contesting the polls against PPP's Nisar Halepoto.

KHAIRPUR: By-election was held on 64 seats out of 122 seats in five UCs of the district in a peaceful manner on Sunday. No untoward incident was reported. Percentage of voting remained between 25 to 30.

The ADP candidate for UC Mousan Shah Nazim, Daud Phul accused his rivals of entering polling station to cast bogus votes with support of police. At Chakar Warasyo polling station of UC Sobhodero, supporters of the ADP and Khairpur Dost Panel scuffled but no one was injured.

LARKANA: By-election for 50 seats of Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors was held amidst tight security arrangements in the district. Some 132 candidates backed by different political parties were in the run.

The by-polls were just a lacklustre activity as no long queues were witnessed outside the polling stations. The Mukhtiarkar Dokri claimed that the turnout remained hardly 10 per cent.

The law and order situation remained peaceful as no untoward incident was reported. The PPP had entered into alliance with Kamariyos of Shikarpur for UC Bahman.

DADU: By-election was held on 34 seats of the district. The turnout remained very low as it was between 3 to 4 per cent in some parts of the district. However, no untoward incident was reported at any polling station.

Five Awam Dost Panel candidates - Aijaz Lakhiar, Mohabat Noonari, Liaquat Solangi, Rahima Soomro and Husan Pari - boycotted the by-election after levelling rigging charges against the Dadu Ittehad Panel.

Mr Lakhair told newsmen that he was threatened with implication in fake cases, if he dared to visit polling stations. A polling station in Ghulam Janwari village in UC Shah Panjo remained closed between 8am to 9:45 am after candidates of the DIP and the MQM exchanged hot words over.

SANGHAR: Five candidates were pitched against each other in two UCs of the district. In UC Kurkly, Sanjhoro Basar Meghwar and Devo Kolhi were in the race whereas in UC Tando Adam, Mubarak, Farooq and Khan Mohammad contested on Muslim general seat.

THATTA: Turnout of voters was recorded at 30 to 35 per cent in by-election in 12 seats on Sunday. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district. Some 21 candidates returned unopposed whereas 58 seats were lying vacant.

MIRPURKHAS: Local bodies by-election was held in a peaceful manner under strict security measures. Turnout of voters remained quite low particularly in rural areas.

Activists of MQM and PPP were seen busy in UC-5 in bringing voters as a tough contest was witnessed between PPP's Qurban Ali Shah and MQM's Tariq Baloch. In Pak colony hot words were exchanged between women activists of PPP and MQM leading to suspension of polling for half an hour. Some 41 candidates contested on 14 vacant seats in 11 UCs.

BADIN: By-election for six seats, including two UC Nazims, was held in a peaceful manner. A candidate for UC Tando Ghulam Ali Nazim, Ishaque Khaskheli sent a complaint to higher authorities against harassment by supporters of his rival candidate of the Awam Dost Panel.

He said the Tando Ghulam Ali police picked up Ayub Lund and Pathan on his complaint while two others escaped. The police confirmed that an FIR was registered against Ayub under section 13-D of Arms Ordinance.

A scuffle took place between supporters of Mir Mohammad Halepoto of the Azad Ittehad and Karam Nizamani of the Nizamani Ittehad over polling, leading to suspension of voting process for over half an hour.

JACOBABAD: Six people suffered injuries in a scuffle that took place at the Iqra School Brohi Mohalla police station in UC- 2 Jacobabad city on Sunday.

Independent candidate Yahya Soomro and Sher Mohammad Brohi of the MQM grappled each other. Sticks were used, causing injuries to Nazar Abbas and Ghanshamdas, both journalists, Hussain Shah, Nisar Panhwar, Iqrar Buriro and Hussain Pathan.

The polling was suspended for one hour. Presiding Officer Jamil Bhutto blamed unknown persons for snatching stamps and ballot paper. By-election was held in 217 seats in six UCs.