In rural areas: Higher turnout witnessed

Sluggish turnout observed at many urban polling stations

ISLAMABAD:

Voters in rural areas of the city more actively participated in the polling process on Monday compared to city dwellers.

Long queues were witnessed at polling stations early in the morning in Bhara Kahu, Tarlai Kalan, Chak Shahzad and Khanna Pul areas. The turnout in the city remained sluggish most of the day.

Overall, the polling was completed smoothly without any major complaints and the process started at the stipulated time, 7am, at most polling stations.

Police, who were deployed at all the polling stations, frisked and searched voters before letting them into the polling stations. Rangers were also deputed at the polling stations that had been declared sensitive.

Qazi Abdul Quddoos, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter at a polling station at Khanna Pul, said polling started almost 20 minutes late at his polling station. Asif Bhatti, the presiding officer, explained that inspection of all seals, serial numbers and ballot papers by the polling agents took almost 10 to 15 minutes, due to which the polling started a few minutes after the scheduled time.

Quddoos, however, expressed satisfaction at the overall arrangements and the polling process.

A man whose identity card was with the NADRA for renewal, but who produced a receipt, was barred from entering the Malpur polling station.

In some areas, candidates or their supporters had also arranged food for voters. PTI candidate for chairman UC-19 Chaudhary Ashraf had arranged breakfast as well as lunch at his Dera for the voters. Not only the youth, but the elderly were also seen in high numbers in the villages of the capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2015.