Lacking enthusiasm: Few turn up for Jacobabad by-poll

About 23% to 30% men showed up to cast their vote while the number of women was even lower.


Our Correspondent August 20, 2016
In some of the polling stations there was no furniture for the election staff so they were forced to sit and work on the floor. PHOTO: EXPRESS

SUKKUR: A low voter turnout was observed during the by-election of PS-14, Jacobabad on Saturday.

About 23% to 30% men showed up to cast their vote while the number of women was even lower. At some polling stations, people with disabilities also came to exercise their right to cast the ballot.

The provincial assembly seat had fallen vacant after the death of PPP MPA Sardar Mohammad Muqeem Khoso. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had nominated Orangzaib Khan Panhwar, son of former Sindh minister Manzoor Khan Panhwar, for the seat while Aslam Abro was representing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Raja Khan Jakhrani was the candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

A heavy contingent of the police and Rangers were deployed inside and outside the polling stations to avert any untoward incident. Of the total 163 polling stations set up, 100 were declared sensitive and 63 'most sensitive'.

Interestingly, the Election Commission of Pakistan had deployed male staff at many of the women polling stations due to which most female voters felt uncomfortable.

In one of the polling stations, Gymkhana polling station, there was no furniture for the polling staff and they were forced to sit on the floor and do their work. Besides, the Rangers also arrested PPP's Jacobabad district council vice-chairman Muhammad Ismail Bhutto from the Karim Bux polling station for allegedly being involved in rigging the polls. Counting was underay till the filing of this story.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2016.

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