ECP, KP govt responsible for unrest, irregularities in LG polls: FAFEN

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government are responsible for unrest and irregularities in local bodies elections, said Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its report issued on Sunday.

Shahid Fayaz, Chief Executive of FAFEN, told media:“Women were stopped from using their right of franchise at 15 polling stations. 13 per cent of polling stations opened late across the province while 26 per cent cases of rigging were reported in the local bodies election,” FAFEN report noted.

It said though turnout in election was higher in comparison with general elections, it was affected by untrained election staff, inadequate number of polling stations and rioting.

The report said rioting across the province affected the turnout with the provincial capital witnessing more chaos than any other part of KP where polling was stopped 18 times on account of disruption.

Bannu was the second most affected area where political hostility marred the process of ballot casting.

The FAFEN said polling stations in Haripur were taken over for 26 times on the election day.