Complaints of voting irregularities in Malir
There have been consistent complaints of mismanagement of the electoral process as several voters The Express Tribune spoke to complained about the change of their polling stations in the metropolitan city.
Siddique, a resident of Malir Cantt, expressed her frustration when she, along with her daughter and husband, attempted to cast their votes. To their astonishment, they were informed that their votes had been assigned to different polling stations - hers in North Karachi, her daughter’s in Model Colony, and her husband’s in Karimabad.
This abrupt change puzzled the family as they had previously voted together at a school in Model Colony. She expressed distress at the situation, particularly since they had eagerly awaited the opportunity to cast their votes after five years.
Another family shared their dismay upon reaching the Sindh Government Secondary School in Model Colony near airport, only to discover that their names were missing from the voter lists. Similarly, Azam lamented the sudden shift in polling stations, causing him mental anguish. This starkly contrasted with the smooth voting experience he had in the 2018 elections at a polling station set up in a government school.
Read Complaints of inaccuracies abound in voter lists
In the National Assembly constituencies NA-231 and NA-230 in Malir, three youths raised suspicions about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) playing tricks during voting. Their votes were recorded in Dunba Goth instead of Saudabad in Malir.
Shafiq, who had voted at a Saudabad school five years ago, was surprised to find his vote excluded when he returned to the same location this time. Another young man noted a deliberate shifting of voters’ names to different polling stations, adding to the confusion.
An elderly couple shared their ordeal of mustering the courage to vote, only to discover that their names were missing from the voter lists at PS-84.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th 2024.