Thirty dead over 400 injured and over 3000 cases all over country added with the allegations of rigging, bogus voting, show of arms, riots in second phase of chaos filled Local Bodies Polls in the 55 districts on August 25.

The deployment of thousands of soldiers, paramilitary troops and a large number of police at polling stations couldn’t stop the violence, which has become a norm in the national politics. In the first phase of the elections on August 18, 22 people were killed and more than 200 injured.

Conflicting reports have emerged from all the four provinces the dead cannot be brought back and similarly the cases will take some years to be decided in the speedy courts, which normally take a generation to give a decision.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar is on record saying that killings on the election day were not poll related as none of the incidents occurred on the premises of a polling station.

Four people were killed in Lahore, three in Sheikhupura, two in Narowal, one in Hafizabad, two in Jhang, one in Okara, two in Jhelum, three in Larkana, two in Kohistan, one in Lower Dir and one woman in Rawalpindi.

Political pundits believe that its divide and rule policy as the polls were held on non Party basis but code of conduct was violated on most of the occasions in all over the country.

The chaos is deep rooted as the entire country was gripped in the Local Bodies elections and hate reigned supreme as these representatives are eyed as parallel to that of the elected representatives in the national assembly. Many members have grievances and have recorded it on numerous occasions as the devolution of powers added with the transference of public funds have made the post at the lower level very lucrative ones for quick cash.

Many members of national assembly also contested in the local body elections leaving their seats and besides themselves had their near and dear one namely sons, nephews and close relatives competing for the lower slots.

The situation in the second phases besides getting marred with the usual poll fever and brutal use of force had Ruling Party Pakistan Muslim League (Q) members contesting against each other added with the fact that opposition parties with their Alliance for Restoration of Democracy had no understanding as in making their presence felt.

The biggest setback happened in NWFP where Jamiat Ulmeai Islam (F) was contesting against many of Jammat Islami candidates. The difference in the religious parties, which are under the umbrella of Mutahidda Majlise Amal (MMA), was seen visible in the Local Bodies Elections and ruling party with PML (Q) and Awami National Party (ANP) taking advantage from the situation.

The opposition parties with their leaders both former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party with Benazir Bhutto never had their party members coming to an understanding as in facing the Ruling Party Candidates rather PML (N) suffered most as many of its members joined the ruling party PML (Q).

The four provinces had their taste of ruling party candidates against the opposition party candidates.

Interesting incidents were also reported when a murder accused was busy electioneering and won the seat of Nazim. The servant to the masses ‘Nazim’ was checked by the Supreme Court which give notice to Punjab Police why the murder accused is not behind bars whose bail plea was accepted earlier and was asked to report before the Supreme Court Bench on August 25 which he did not as he was winning the polls at that time.

The officials involved in conducting the polls also have many a tales added with the voters who couldn’t find their names in the polling lists, opposition candidates complaining that their allotted symbols are not on the ballot papers, inadequate facilities for the presiding officers and a general harassment from the authorities that were in an around facilities which were in the areas marked as red zones due to political sensitivity.

There was no code of conduct list issued for the election staff and the votes were cast on production of National Identity Cards both old and new, driving license, receipts of the new cards and everything that could identify a person.

The voters generally remain disinterested in the entire electoral process, as despite all slogans and announcement of Millennium Development Goals, they have lost their faith in the system that goes more corrupt each day.

The voters were influenced in many ways with the political stalwarts meeting them and with usual promises but all the glitter failed to get the maximum of masses out.

A man walking from a polling station said, “I am labourer and I live on day to day basis and I can barely make my ends meet as in decent meal, I cant vote as I have no national identity card and like me thousands don’t have it, I sleep on the pavement and under a tree and I look for work.

This election has nothing for me as I don’t belong here and I will die if not from work then may be from a stray bullet as it happened here an hour ago and if not from stray bullet then by a drunk rich car driver who will run me over and escape from the scene.”

“I am just leaving the place as for me its like entertainment as so many people acting as sheep dying to be the first one for the wolf jaws, I had my fun and I am moving to Data Darbar to get free food.”

The growing number of complaints from candidates across the country prompted the CEC Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has appointed 24 tribunals in the NWFP to dispose of election petitions besides 28 tribunals in Balochistan to dispose of election petitions arising out of the first two phases of local government elections.The tribunals have been appointed to receive, try and dispose of petitions related to local level elections in union councils of the province

The opposition is coordinating for a joint stance and is expected to meet early next month with Qazi Hussain Ahmed, president Jamaat Islami along with others giving details of pre poll rigging in the local bodies polls as how state machinery was used to get the desired results.