Pakistan: 8 killed, 80 injured in poll-related violence

At least eight persons were killed and more than 80 others injured on Sunday when supporters of rival political parties clashed during the local body elections in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The casualties were reported from Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Peshawar and other areas during the polling which was interrupted at several booths due to poor security arrangements, officials said.

The workers of the rival political parties clashed at various polling stations in Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand, Swat and Nowshera districts. There were also reports that women were barred from entering the polling stations at some places.

According to reports, six persons including two brothers were killed during clashes outside a polling booth in Charsadda while two others were shot dead in Dera Ismail Khan.

Two women were injured when rival groups opened fire at a polling station in Charsadda. According to medics, 30 injured were brought to Lady Reading Hospital here.

Members of the civil society, educationists, legal fraternity dubbed the polls as the most mismanaged elections in the history of the province.

The Election Commission of Pakistan is reported to have received more than 500 complaints from Peshawar district alone. The complaints focused on mismanagement, rigging and firing outside polling stations in the district.

Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak blamed Election Commission for the mismanagement. He also rejected reports that women were barred from voting.