An election official seals a ballot box before the start of voting at a polling station in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: @J0an0fArc
"The lists are disorganized and the numbers are incorrect," he said, explaining that this had created mass confusion and frustration among voters who could not be found on the lists and hence had to wait for a long time to cast their ballot.
"The ECP has failed us," he said, "It has minted money and done nothing to ensure free and fair elections."
The streets were full of supporters waving flags and hanging out at the party camps which were set up really close to the stations in violation of the ECP code for conduct. Businesses were entirely shut down, only the rare tuck shop was seen with its shutters up.
No cellphone, missing information
Female polling officers arrived as early as 8:35 at NA-48 in IMCG F-10-2, and the growing queue has started to complain.
There was mass confusion about block codes, as some had left their cellphones at home and were struggling to get hold of the numbers without which it was impossible to find them on the list.
No seats for senior citizens
There was no queue for senior or disabled citizens who were forced to either cut ahead of people who had been waiting for an hour or to wait in the heat in line like others. A residing officer said that since the queues were divided between block numbers, it was not possible to have a separate line to facilitate such voters.
New voter disappointed
22-year-old first time voter Aasia Akhtar was disappointed with the polling staff's lack of knowledge about the process. "The female police officer present isn't doing anything to maintain decorum here," she expressed. She also added that people were having to go from line to line to find their names on the lists, though this was solved eventually through better organization of lines according to block numbers as the hour went by.
At NA-48 I-11, there was a handsome amount of female voters ready for the ballots for the first time. They had not been educated by their parties of choosing, however, and struggled to stamp the right symbol, speaking in Pashtu to other voters and asking for help despite constant reprimanding from polling agents present. There were only male police personnel stationed there.
Polling officer, Shaista Parveen lamented that while women who had very little understanding of the voting process were being allowed this right, she, along with thousands of other teaching staff employed at polling stations were unable to vote even though they had the awareness and interest to do so.
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