KP completes second phase of LG elections

PESHAWAR: The second and last phase of the Local Government (LG) elections completed after polling in 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday and according to initial results, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leading in most of the areas.

This was for the first time that the LG elections held in the tribal districts that have merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

There were reports of clashes and disturbance at many polling stations in South and North Waziristan, Kolai-Palas Kohistan, Mansehra and some other districts during the voting.

However, no serious incident reported from any place. A control room set up for monitoring the process in all 18 districts. A large number of women turned up at polling stations after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had warned of action against stopping women from voting.

“The polling was, by and large, peaceful. Isolated incidents reported in some places but not serious. While considering eight million voters as well as over 28,000 candidates. More than 6,000 polling stations things remained pretty decent,” Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari. Told private news channel.

Extraordinary security arrangements made in and around the polling stations due to the overall law, and order situation. Also to counter any untoward incident like that in the first phase of the polls.

In the first phase of the elections in December last year, polling had to postponed in some of the tehsil. Also neighborhood councils due to attacks and violence at the polling stations. The ECP had expressed anger at the law and order situation and demanded improved security during the second phase.