At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in violence between rival groups during the second phase of local body polls in Pakistan on Thursday.Seven of the dead, including a woman were killed in Punjab province, while two others were killed in Kohistan in the North West Frontier Province during an exchange of fire between rival groups. There were reports of two more people killed elsewhere.During the first phase of elections, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its allies claimed big wins, though opponents of the government denounced the polls as rigged. Though the elections for local councils were held on a non-party basis, most candidates were backed by party factions.Interest has been relatively high, with turnout appearing to outstrip that of the national elections in many areas. The Opposition, however, has dismissed Election Commission estimates of a 50 per cent turnout as exaggerated.The Opposition has also accused the ruling coalition of widespread rigging. ‘‘We are expecting nothing better from the government and its allies in the second round—in terms of rigging, in terms of high-handedness and in terms of the involvement of government machinery in the election process,’’ said Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan People’s Party.The councillors elected in this round will elect powerful district Nazims, who can use their political clout to influence elections in 2007 to the national and provincial assemblies that pick the President.Election officials say voting in two districts of the south-western province of Baluchistan will be held later due to security problems. —Reuters
