In Pakistan’s Kohistan, a scuffle broke out which left seven people injured between two different groups of independent candidates in Jijal area of NA-11 Kohistan, Dawn News reported.
The polling process has been temporarily halted in the area while the injured have been shifted to local hospital, police say.
In another incident in Badin, a clash occurred between workers of PPP and GDA which left five people injured in Chak No 1 near Golarchi town of Badin district. The polling process has been suspended. Troops have been dispatched to control the situation.
Earlier, 25 people were killed in a deadly blast in Quetta, IG police Mohsin Butt confirmed, Dawn News reported. The victims included both police officials and civilians. ISIS confirmed that the attack was carried out by one of the suicide bombers.
Originally, the blast had targeted a police van which was passing by on a road near a polling station in NA-260. Investigations are underway and an emergency has been declared at Civil Hospital where injured are being treated.
In a different incident, a fight broke out between PTI and PML-N workers after voters were allegedly forced to cast votes in Chak 168/10R in NA-151, Khanewal.
Workers of both parties were reportedly armed with sticks and batons. The City Police Station was alerted and police reached the scene to get the situation under control.
Upto 12,570 candidates are contesting for a total of 849 seats of national and provincial assemblies in the general election. The elections result are expected to be distributed among three parties vigorously contesting- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). PML-N candidate Shehbaz Sharif was among the first to cast his vote, Dawn News reported.
To increase participation in the elections, July 25 had earlier been declared as a holiday.
