LAHORE (Staff Report) – Results of second phase of polling for the local government elections in Punjab and Sindh are pouring in from and PML-N is leading in Punjab, while PPP is front-runner in Sindh, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.
Polling was held in twelve districts of Punjab, and fourteen districts of Sindh.
Party Punjab Results Sindh Results
PTI 322 7
PML-N 1013 95
PPP 15 1272
MQM 0 118
JI 8 0
IND 894 122
PML-F 0 22
Others 35 80
Read More: Zulfiqar Mirza group wins all 14 wards in Badin: unofficial results
Strict security arrangements were made for day-long voting process in Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura and Khanewal districts.
In Sindh polling process was held in Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Matiari, Dadu, Jamshoro, Badin, Thatta, Sajawal, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nausharoferoz, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkhar districts in this phase.
Polling in Sanghar was postponed due to security reasons.
The Election Commission of Pakistan postponed local bodies elections in 81 UCs of 8 districts of Sindh, for second phase of polling.
The districts where elections in certain union councils were postponed included Hyderabad, Badin, Tharparkar, Tando Allahyar, Mirpur Khas, Benazirabad, Nosheraferoz and Jamshoro.
A total of over twenty million voters were expected exercise their right of franchise in the two provinces to elect their local representatives in second phase.
Earlier the first phase of local bodies elections in two province had taken place on October 31 when Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) emerged as leading parties with thumping majority in Punjab and Sindh respectively.
The first phase of LG poll contest was held in 12 districts of Punjab and 8 of Sindh.
According to unofficial results of 2696 seats in the Punjab, PML-N led with 1192 seats while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) grabbed 285.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bagged 47 while the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) secured 44 seats.
Independent candidates succeeded on 1065 seats in the province. Other parties have succeeded in securing 26 seats in the province. The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) secured 2 seats each.
In Sindh, PPP was ahead with 720 seats followed by Pakistan Muslim League-F with 74, independent candidates 174 and other parties grabbed 25 seats.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) secured 11, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) bagged 4, and PTI grabbed 5, while the PML-N secured 3 seats in the province.
LIVE UPDATES
Live updates end here
5:30pm: Polling ends
The polling process for the second phase of local bodies elections has ended and the vote counting is underway.
4:45pm: Woman found casting multiple votes in Sargodha
A woman has been found casting multiple votes Sargodha during second phase of local government elections. The alleged malpractice took place in UC-9 of Sargodha, where a camera caught the women casting eight votes in a polling station. Taking notice of media reports, DCO directed returning officer to take action against the polling staff present in the polling station. Earlier, polling for second phase of local bodies’ elections began in 12 districts of Punjab and 14 districts of Sindh under tight security.
3:38pm: Polling postponed in Sheikhupura
District Returning Officer has postponed polling process at 2 polling stations of UC-25 in Sheikhupura. The decision was made after voting process remained suspended for six hours.
The date for election will be announced later on, said DRO.
3:33pm: PML-N candidate injured in armed clash in Kotri
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Nawaz Gabol was injured along with his brother in an armed clash in UC Toang of Kotri.
Media reports also suggest that at least one policeman was also injured in the incident.
3:10pm: Presiding officer arrested after 600 ballot papers go missing
Tharparkar Assistant Commissioner has arrested presiding officer along with other polling staff after 600 ballot papers were found missing at Ward-1.
Polling agents of different political parties were also among those apprehended.
2:57pm: PML-N, PTI wrokers clash in Gujranwala
Polling process has been afected due to clash between rival groups of PML-N and PTI in UC-71 Khiyali area of Gujranwala.
2:35pm: DG Sindh Rangers reaches Hyderabad
DG Sindh Rangers Mjor-General Bilal Akbar has reached Hyderabad to review the security situation amid polling process. Earlier he visited Thatha and Badin as well.
Speaking on the occasion DG said that local bodies election are underway in a peaceful way and ECP’s conde of conduct is being enforced effectively.
2:31pm: PPP, Shirazi group supporters clash in Thatha
Supporters of local PPP leaders and Shirazi group clashed in Thatha during the polling process. The voting process has been affected by the fight at several polling stations.
2:01pm: Rangers called in Gujranwala as rivals clash
Rangers were called in at UC-31 Gujranwala polling station after clash erupted between supporters of a candidate of PTI and opponent group.
1:45pm: PML-PTI workers clash in Hafizabad
Two rival groups clashed at Govt Primary School-8 polling station in Hafizabad. Police were called at the site.
1:42pm: PPP candidate released after brief arrest in Badin
Aziz Memon, the PPP candidate in Badin, has been released by Sindh Rangers after a brief arrest. Memon said he was questioned by the officials in Rangers Headquarters.
1:37pm: Poling called of ballot papers end in Khanewal
The process of polling was called off in UC-120 Khanewal, after ballot papers ended. According to DRO there were 1309 registered voters in UC but only 600 ballot papers were provided.
1:32pm: Rangers summoned at Kotri polling station
Rangers were called in at a polling station in Kotri after two groups of women clashed. The incident took place in Municipal Committee Ward-3 polling station.
1:14pm: ECP confirms receiving 75 complaints so far
ECP secretary has confirmed that commission has so far received 75 complaints about polling process. None of the complaint was serious, he said.
12:58pm: Aerial firing outside Chiniot polling station
An incident of firing has been reported from a polling station in Ward-15 Mazar road Chiniot. Police and Elite Force personnel reached the site after incident.
12:50pm: Journalists tortured in Mianwali
Secretary ECP has taken notice of a incident in Mianwali in which police tortured journalists. A details report has been sought from DRO Mianwali in this regard.
12:38pm: Clash between PML-N, PTI workers in Sahiwal
At least three people were injured in a clash between rival groups of PML-N and PTI at UC-10 of Sahiwal.
12:35pm: Police thrashes election candidate in Mandi Bahauddin
Police officials have reportedly thrashed a candidate in UC-16 of Mandi Bahauddin. The incident took place when two groups clashed at a polling station.
12:30pm: PTI candidate boycotts polling
PTI candidate in Darya Khan area of Chambar has announced to boycott the polling process, alleging that PPP candidate was being favoured by the administration.
12:05pm: Rangers summoned in Sheikhupura to control situation
Rangers have been called in to control situation following clashes in Sheikhupura district. The personnel have taken over positions in Ward number 31, 32 and 41.
11:57am: Woman slaps presiding officer in Khanewal
A woman has slapped the presiding officer in polling station number 5 in UC-25 Khanewal. Media reports suggested that the woman was mother of an independent candidate Hammad Raza.
11:35am: DG Sindh Rangers visits Badin
Director General Sindh Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar visited Thatha and Badin to review and order situation amid polling process.
11:30am: Voters bring stamped ballot paper outside polling station
The voters have been bringing stamped ballot papers out of polling stations in Gujranwala’s U-58 Vania Wala.
11:15am: Women not casting votes in Lalian village of Sargodha
Not a single woman has cast vote in Lalian village of district Sargodha. The candidates have reportedly signed an agreement not to allow women to participate in polling process.
11:05am: PTI and PML-N workers exchange fire in Gujranwala
The polling was stopped for some time after supporters of PTI and PML-N opened firing at each other in Noshera Virkan area of Gujranwala. Police said there have been no reports of any loss.
11:01am: Polling postponed in UC -53 Hyderabad
The polling process has been postponed in UC-53 Hyderabad following the misprinting of electoral signs. The returning officer called off voting after complaints of contestants.
10:55am: Army called in after rivals exchange gunfire in Mandi Bahauddin
A contingent of Pakistan army reached the site control law and order situation in Mandi Bahuddin pollin station number 53, following an armed clash between two rival groups.
10:50am: Voter dies of heart attack
A votes has died at polling station number one in Mirpur Khas. According to reports the voter died of sudden heart attack.
10:15am: ECP received 9 complaints from Punjab
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has so far received nine complaints from Punjab. All of the complaints were about polling process.
The ECP secretary said that commission has not received any serious complaint so far.
10:05am: PML-N candidate offers free breakfast in Jehlum
A candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is offering free meals (breakfast) to voters outside polling station in Ward 33 Abbas Pura area of Jehlum.
9:58am: Polling postponed upon non-arrival of ballot papers:
The process of polling was postponed in UC-12 Bhera in Sargodha after the ballot papers were supplied for Chairman and Vice Chairman poll.
9:55am: Polling not started in Umerkot
The process of voting has not yet been started in different polling stations of Tehsil Samro in District Umerkot.
Meanwhile Rangers and police personnel are patrolling in the area to maintain law and order situation.
9:50am: Women barred from voting in Mianwali
No women has been allowed to cast vote in Union COuncil Paikhel in Mianwali after an informal agreement between all contestants.
9:45am: Polling process stopped in UC-8 and UC-53 Hyderabad
The polling process has been halted in UC-53 and UC-8 following the protest on misprinting of electoral signs of independent candidates Zahid Arain and Rahab Solangi.
The police officials resorted on aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
9:40am: ECP continue receiving complaints
Election Commission of Pakistan has said it has been receiving several complaints from parts of interior Sindh, where few electoral signs are either missing or misprinted.
Many others have also approached ECP saying that polling administration was favouring candidates during the polling process.
ECP spokesman said that they however have not received any formal complaint from any political party.
9:25am: Women not allowed to vote
Female voters have barred from casting votes in UC-35 and 35 in Kot Momin area of district Sargodha.
9:13am: Polling process halted in UC-8 Hyderabad
The process of polling was halted in UC-38 after the electoral sign of JUP candidate was misprinted. MQM supporters gathered outside polling station to protest against the pause in polling, demanding presiding officer to resume the process.
9:05am: Nephew commits suicide after killing uncle
A nephew has committed suicide after taking life of his uncle over a political dispute in Muridke. Both were taken to nearby hospital however succumbed to fatal injuries.
8:40am: PTI Councillor contestant injured in Chichawatnai
A candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Rana Waseem, has been injured in a firing incident in UC-56 in Chichawatni.
8:00am: ECP establishes complaint cell
Election Commission of Pakistan has established a special control room to monitor second phase of LB polls.
According to a statement, complaints can be lodged on telephone numbers 051-9210816-8 for Punjab and on 051-9210819 for Sindh.
