Polling in bypolls to 21 seats in Pakistan ends

ISLAMABAD: Polling ended on Sunday for 21 national and provincial seats in the by-elections in Pakistan, which took place amidst tight security and suspension of cellular and internet services in some districts of Punjab and Balochistan to maintain law and order.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), voting began at 8 am and continued without any break until 5 pm with the provision that voters present within the premises of polling stations would be allowed to cast votes even after the expiry of official timing.

It will be followed by counting, while results are expected later tonight. Despite elaborate security measures taken by authorities to maintain the law and order situation, at least one person was killed and several others injured in clashes during the polling in Punjab province, according to t he police.

“Violent clashes took place in Narowal, Sheikhpura and Rahim Yar Khan in which one person was killed and several injured,” the Punjab police said.

In Narowal, some 120 km from Lahore, a clash took place between the supporters of former prime ministers Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif outside a polling station.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the victim was a member of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who was killed by workers of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

In the Sheikhupura and Rahim Yar Khan districts of Punjab, at least five workers of the two rival parties suffered bullet injuries during clashes.

Similarly in Lahore, the PTI and PML-N workers scuffled on setting up polling camps. Police arrested four persons, including PTI leader Shabbir Gujjar.

The general elections were held across the country on February 8 to elect representatives for the national assembly and four provincial assemblies.

Despite elaborate security measures taken by authorities, at least one person was killed and several others injured in clashes during polling in Punjab province