Law and order: Parties expect low turnout on E Day

PESHAWAR:

The decision to bring campaigning to a close at midnight was taken keeping in mind the consistent deterioration of law and order in the build-up to Election Day. Party leaders have expressed concern about a low turnout of voters because of the volatile situation in the region.

Awami National Party senior leader Ghulam Bilour voiced his fear of a low turnout during a press conference on Thursday. The NA-1 Peshawar 1 contestant said, “Turnout would be low due to the prevailing security conditions in the region.”

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl provincial secretary information and candidate for PK-3 Abdul Jalil Jan told The Express Tribune, “Though people responded positively to casting votes during our campaign, the actual situation will only be clear on May 11”. He added women voters would face difficulties due to the ECP’s ban on arranging transport. Recently, Pakistan Peoples Party stalwart and candidate for PK-2 Syed Zahir Ali Shah also expressed similar concerns – for women voters in particular — because of prevailing safety issues.

Khadim Ali Yousafzai, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz youth wing central secretary information and candidate for PK-3 said, “There is constant tension in my constituency.” He feared it would be difficult to get people to come out and vote on Election Day due to unrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.