PTI claims pre-poll rigging in Karachi's posh locales

MQM harassment continues unabated in Naval Shifa Colony, claims PTI.


Saadia Qamar May 11, 2013
MQM harassment continues unabated in Naval Shifa Colony, claims PTI. PHOTO: @usmans1978

KARACHI: Pakistan goes to polls but can it handle it,---handle pre-poll rigging. The answer is simple no. In the country’s polling history something or the other surely gets malfunction as the votes do not get casted in the ballot box, just because the ballot box isn’t present, in it’s midst is a reason for high concern.

NA 250, PS 113, polling station 73, it was a terrible blow to the elderly who were standing under the sun, and not being able to cast the vote. Simple reason given by one Rafaqat Javed, a voter said, “We have been standing here since 7: 30 am, but the case in question is of the missing ballot box.”

Standing right beside him in the queue was Aijaz Aslam, the actor who was as frustrated as another actor Adnan Siddiqui, standing right upfront, both claimed, “Somebody should tell the ECP what is happening here. Polling agents are not starting the polls here. We have heard that the ballot boxes arrived here late. All voters are in attendance. All they are saying is we are starting it in five minutes, and it hasn’t started as yet.”

The polling started after 9: 00 am in the morning, at this particular polling station. One voter Durdana Arshad was frustrated to core and said she couldn’t wait anymore for it to begin.

Right next door at NA 250, PS 113, polling station 80, it was another sight to see, the line in a straight file, all motioning ahead in order. Taking three people within the premises, at time, the polling began at around 8: 15 am in the morning of the 11th May. It was here one saw that the elderly were being allowed to go in first and the handicapped were being facilitated, as well. Security was fine.

For a voter Sanober Farooq, said, this was her second time to ever vote in the country’s election. However comparing 2008 with 2013 elections, she said, “Last time, we had just two parties to vote for either, now there is an ideology that so many people want to vote for!”

A source was quoted as saying that seven areas in Defence and Clifton suffered pre-poll rigging and when one visited the PTI office located in Khadda Market, came face to face with Mrs Arif Alvi, the wife of the candidate of Arif Alvi for NA 250. She was upset and angry at the ongoing situation, and said, “With no ballot boxes, no presiding officer, in Defence and Clifton areas, MQM harassment continues unabated in Naval Shifa Colony and at a polling station at Korangi Crossing, people are in others words being told to go home and are not being allowed to vote.”

So was it too early to indicate that the polls were not fair, or are these fair elections, Alvi said, “This is not fairness. This is not. How come can you call it fair elections? For all we know, the interim government should close down everything and take notice of the situation and send at least presiding officer at the polling station!”

COMMENTS (12)

sam | 10 years ago | Reply

vicky, that scene was repeated at the boys college. voters did not move but waited several hours to cast their vote. again, mostly pti and some jamatis.

sam | 10 years ago | Reply

Moral credibility is as important as number of votes. If this deliberate electoral interference was happening in defence then surely we can understand the authenticity of voting results in areas where violence and party affiliations are rife. The very need to rig indicates a deep seated sense of insecurity and desire to dominate. Not democracy!

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