Bilawal concerned at ‘incredibly slow’ pace of results

PPP raises concerns over opaque polling in a letter to ECP

KARACHI/ LAHORE:

 

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concerns on the incredibly slow pace of results after the conclusion of voting in the general election 2024.

In a post on microblogging site “X”, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Results are incredibly slow coming in. However, initial results are very encouraging!”

Bilawal claimed that the PPP candidates and “independents whom we have supported/engaged with seem to be doing well! Let’s see what the final tally is in the end.”

Meanwhile, PPP Central Election Cell's In-charge Senator Taj Haider has written a letter to the Election Commission (ECP) highlighting alleged irregularities in the polling process at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) provincial assembly’s PK-16 constituency.

According to Haider, the PPP candidate at the constituency had claimed that polling was held at High School Timergara polling station in an opaque manner.

Polling staff sent groups of 10 women voters to cast votes in closed rooms and the polling agents of the party were barred from entering the polling stations, he said.

“The Election Commission [of Pakistan] should promptly address the matter and issue necessary directives to relevant authorities,” the letter said.

PK-16 Lower Dir-III constituency is located in the K-P district Lower Dir.

Read: Hours after polling, nation awaits final results of elections

Timergara city is the district's headquarters. This district was formed in 1996, when Dir District was divided into Upper Dir and Lower Dir districts. Kamranzeb Khan is the PPP candidate for PK-16, Lower Dir-III constituency.

Over the years, PK-16 has seen shifts in political alignments and party affiliations, reflecting the evolving preferences and priorities of its electorate.

Candidates from different political parties have vied for the opportunity to represent the constituency, advocating for issues ranging from infrastructure development to education and healthcare.

The constituency has also faced challenges typical of many rural areas in Pakistan, including issues related to governance, poverty, and access to basic amenities.

Efforts by successive governments and local representatives have aimed to address these challenges and improve the quality of life for residents of PK-16.

Despite its challenges, PK-16 has remained an integral part of K-P's political landscape, with its residents actively participating in the democratic process to elect representatives who can effectively advocate for their interests at the provincial level.