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)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
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.
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!
Dear B M you were lucky. In all of the DHA polling stations there were deliberate attempts to turn away genuine voters to allow ballot stuffing! Not with weapons but delays in starting the electoral process till 3 at the boys college and later at phase 4. There are many ways to cheat. What i would like is next time to have a total of actual voters who turned up in a given time who were actually able to vote. I hope the ECP does that for NA 250.
I voted Erum Butt for PS-116 and Syed Ali Zaidi for NA-252 of PTI at Govt Home Economics College opp AKU in Karachi. Got to the location at 9am sharp and was done by 9:10am. This whole concept of waiting 3 hours is alien to me. Get their early or stop complaining. Ever heard of "The early bird gets the worm" ? .. oh and even though I voted PTI, I can attest that despite being in MQM territory, no one harassed or attempted to intimidate me.
Our boxes did not arrive till noon, arrangements for women delayed in the hope that they would go away which they didn't. Voting actually began about three.........I was in a line at 12 from which i did not move, and finally cast my vote at 6pm. That indicates the efficiency. Hundreds of people men women and young adults were there...mostly to cast a vote for PTI. An elderly gentleman said "We are gratefful to the PPP for galvanising the silent majority to come out!" But May 11th is a new dawn.....with hope and determination to be a part of the system.
I live in phase 2 ext DHA, and casted my vote at a school here at around 9:30 am, the vast majority of voters were PTI supporters, at least 90% in my opinion.
PTI deserves to win NA250.
I am an NA-250 voter. Ballot papers arrived in Phase VIII at around 11 and polling started at around 11 30. Have of the voter lists have not yet arrived. Even the media was not present but thanks to Geo they arrived first and reported the same. I had to wait 4 and half hours to cast my vote. But one thing i can say of sure people stood there and 95% were supporters of PTI. I am deducting 5% just to remain on the safe side :).
Voting is a right of every adult.By rigging these people can rule the country but they will never rule our hearts as our hearts are already with Imran Khan.
This is terrible, we will take to the streets in a peaceful march if our vote is tarnished in this way. These forces have seen which way the winds of change are blowing and are terrified.
loosers
Where is army ??????????
Good luck Karachi - its your today to annouce the verdict