Voters struggle to find polling stations in Lahore’s NA-122
A policeman checks identity cards of men as they arrive to cast their ballots to vote during Pakistan's national elections, at a polling station in Lahore on February 8, 2024. PHOTO: AFP
The electoral process in constituency NA-122 witnessed widespread confusion and frustration as hundreds of voters struggled to locate their polling stations. The situation, dubbed the "policy of scattered votes," fueled allegations of planned rigging, exacerbated by the absence of mobile signals in various areas.
The heated competition for the National Assembly seat in NA-122 involves prominent figures, with PML-N's Khawaja Saad Rafique and PTI-backed Sardar Latif Khan Khosa vying for victory.
Reports emerged from different polling stations that the voting process started late due to the non-availability of polling agents and overcrowded rooms designated as polling booths. This delay added to the growing concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
In particular, the situation turned tense at multiple locations, including Ghazi Road in front of Divisional Public School, Defense Lyceum School, The Intellectual Vision High School, Government Girls School (Charrar Village), Gorsi School, and others. Residents of Defense Housing Authority (DHA) expressed frustration as they struggled to find their assigned polling stations.
Noveen Akhtar, Iftikhar Ahmed, Snobia Umar, Sajjad Haider, and other voters voiced their grievances, claiming that they were unable to locate their polling stations despite their attempts. Some alleged mistreatment, stating that being supporters of PTI founder Imran Khan had led to their difficulties.
Muhammad Akbar, a resident of Askari-X, expressed bewilderment at the situation, stating that he had come to Ghazi Road to cast his vote but was unable to comprehend the logic behind the confusion.
Also read: Amnesty slams Pakistan’s internet shutdown as ‘blunt attack on people’s rights’
Khosa registered complaints with various presiding officers, but his efforts appeared futile. At The Intellectual Vision High School, a presiding officer explained to Khosa that he had not altered votes and was following the provided list. However, he assisted in locating polling stations for some voters through different apps.
Female voters from DHA raised concerns about being directed to polling stations in Charrar village rather than in their locality. This added to the discontent among women participating in the electoral process.
Several polling stations, including Gorsi School and Shakar Ganj School, experienced delays in starting the polling process. At Shakar Ganj, the absence of polling agents from both PML-N and PTI-backed candidates caused further complications. At Gorsi School, congested rooms hindered the timely commencement of the polling process.
After prolonged discussions, the polling agents of both PML-N and the PTI-backed contestant were compelled to sit outside the room due to overcrowding caused by election staff, further casting a shadow over the fairness of the electoral proceedings.