The situation turned ugly during voting in the general elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly on Sunday when voters of the PML-N and the PPP clashed with each other in the presence of the police personnel at polling station number 403 of GBA-II, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
PPP workers raised an objection when PML-N candidate Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman tried to enter the polling station.
This resulted in a fight between workers of both the parties.
The incident prompted the authorities to deploy a large contingent of the police personnel at the polling station.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Kharmang district when PPP leader Raja Javed Akhtar, who was on a visit to a women's polling station to monitor voting, accused the PML-N workers of rigging the polls.
He alleged that the staff deputed at the polling station was hand in glove with the PML-N, and that female voters had been paid to make them vote for the PML-N.
He also threatened with protest if transparent elections were not ensured. This led to a brawl at the polling station.
How one can prevent ordinary people from flouting election rules when Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, a PML-N candidate and former GB CM, filmed the casting of his vote.
It merits mention here that action can be taken against the persons taking photographs or making videos of a ballot paper.
Similarly, a violation of election rules was witnessed in Diamer-II when despite the fact that a ban had been imposed on bringing electronic gadgets to polling stations, a youth entered a polling booth with a cellphone in his hands.
The video of the youth casting a vote with a cellphone in his hands went viral on social media.
However, the election commission did not take notice of the incident till the filing of this news.
PPP fields highest number of candidates
PPP has fielded 23 candidates, PML-N 22, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 14, Pakistan Muslim League 11, JUI-F 9, MWM 7, while JI and MQM-P have fielded six candidates each.
Reporters: Hashir Ahsan and Mubarak Ali