Election preparations: 99 polling stations moved in Badin in alleged attempt to tilt votes

Report intensifies ‘pre-poll rigging’ allegations.

BADIN: In Badin’s five talukas, 99 polling stations have been shifted, according to a report sent to the provincial election commission by the district authorities.

With 933 polling booths for male and 832 for female voters, a total of 579 polling stations will be set up in Badin for the general elections next year. Twenty-two polling stations in the Badin taluka, 13 in Golarchi, 14 in Tando Bago, 15 in Talhar and 35 in Matli have been shifted.

The report compiled by the Badin election commission has been sent after a survey by the assistant commissioners, mukhtiarkars, education officials and teachers.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders have pressurised the survey teams to change polling stations,” alleged Ismail Rahu, a member of the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League. Condemning the change of polling stations before elections, he said that people will take to the streets against the move.

“The PPP jiyalas had kept thousands of national identity cards in the name of Benazir Cards and Pakistan Cards,” alleged Rahu. “The PPP sees its possible defeat in the upcoming elections and plans to use unethical tactics,” he said. “We’ll also take legal action against the change in location of polling stations.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Pappu Shah said that the survey teams were pressured into shifting the polling stations. “I do not agree with these figures. More than 99 stations must have been changed,” he claimed.

An MPA from Badin’s Golarchi taluka, PPP’s Muhammad Nawaz Chandio, refuted the claims, saying these were just mere allegations by anti-PPP people, who want to draw attention of the people as they know they cannot defeat the ruling party in the upcoming elections.

“It is solely the election commission’s work. There was no political interference,” said PPP’s MPA Dr Sikandar Mandhro. “There are many others reasons of shifting the polling stations, including migration of people, damage to the public buildings during floods, dismal infrastructure and volatile law and order,” he justified.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2012.