Out of reach?: Voters in PK-77 refuse to vote, demand relocation of polling station
"There is no truth to the statement regarding the polling station being set up 25 kilometers away from them,” says RO.
Villagers demanded to restore their 2008 election polling station and appealed to the chief election commissioner to establish polling stations closer to their homes. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
BUNER:
Voters in PK-77 Buner have refused to go vote on Election Day, claiming the polling station has been set up 25 kilometres from their villages.
Social and political activist in Bandher village, Rehmat Shah said their polling station has been set up in Kilawano Dherai which is 25 kilometres away. He termed this an “injustice”.
“Majority of our people are very poor and cannot hire vehicles to travel so far. Only a few young people will be able to go while the rest, particularly women and the elderly, will be deprived of casting their vote,” said Shah. “When we approached the returning officer (RO) to convey our concerns, he did not pay heed to us.”
Another political activist, Gul Rahman said several villages, including Sar Thana, Bandher, Kohey, Shera, Ala Dhosh, Toot Kallay, Kamela and Banda among others, are located in far flung and hilly areas. He agreed polling stations have been set up away from the villages.
“There are more than 2,500 voters in these areas and we will not be able to vote,” he complained, adding they took the matter up with the RO who said it was impossible to change the location.
Villagers demanded to restore their 2008 election polling station and appealed to the chief election commissioner to establish polling stations closer to their homes.
When contacted Buner’s district assistant election commissioner said the establishment of polling schemes is the RO’s responsibility and not of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Meanwhile, RO for PK-77 claimed people were making false statements. “Every voter wants to have a polling station at their doorstep. There is no truth to the statement regarding the polling station being set up 25 kilometers away from them,” he said.
He added the ECP assigned the polling stations and they cannot be changed now.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2013.
Voters in PK-77 Buner have refused to go vote on Election Day, claiming the polling station has been set up 25 kilometres from their villages.
Social and political activist in Bandher village, Rehmat Shah said their polling station has been set up in Kilawano Dherai which is 25 kilometres away. He termed this an “injustice”.
“Majority of our people are very poor and cannot hire vehicles to travel so far. Only a few young people will be able to go while the rest, particularly women and the elderly, will be deprived of casting their vote,” said Shah. “When we approached the returning officer (RO) to convey our concerns, he did not pay heed to us.”
Another political activist, Gul Rahman said several villages, including Sar Thana, Bandher, Kohey, Shera, Ala Dhosh, Toot Kallay, Kamela and Banda among others, are located in far flung and hilly areas. He agreed polling stations have been set up away from the villages.
“There are more than 2,500 voters in these areas and we will not be able to vote,” he complained, adding they took the matter up with the RO who said it was impossible to change the location.
Villagers demanded to restore their 2008 election polling station and appealed to the chief election commissioner to establish polling stations closer to their homes.
When contacted Buner’s district assistant election commissioner said the establishment of polling schemes is the RO’s responsibility and not of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Meanwhile, RO for PK-77 claimed people were making false statements. “Every voter wants to have a polling station at their doorstep. There is no truth to the statement regarding the polling station being set up 25 kilometers away from them,” he said.
He added the ECP assigned the polling stations and they cannot be changed now.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2013.