Pakistani political party activists clash near a womens polling station after an incident during voting for the general election in Rawalpindi on May 11, 2013. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Allegations of poll rigging were rife in some areas of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as it was reported that workers of certain political parties were using various methods to influence the outcome.
Electoral lists at some polling stations mysteriously disappeared, while voters were also misguided by workers of rival candidates. The youth, many of whom were first-time voters, were a prime target for misinformation, as were the elderly.
The Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf alleged that both PML-N and JI workers were actively misguiding PTI supporters at several polling stations.
Deviating from the standard procedure of setting up a polling station for 700 to 1,000 voters, the Election Commission of Pakistan established a polling station in Golra Sharif in Islamabad to accommodate as many as 6,000 voters. In every sub-sector of the main sectors of Islamabad, there were three to four polling stations, but residents of sectors E-11/1, 2 and E-11/3 and of adjacent suburbs had to cast their vote at the Golra polling station, next to the home of PML-N candidate Anjum Aqeel Khan, who won the 2008 elections from the same constituency (NA-48).
According to female PTI voters in NA-48, some burqa-clad female supporters of PML-N blocked PTI voters waiting in the queue from going inside the station. They alleged that the polling station was set up in Golra with the intention of making it easier for the PML-N to rig the polls.
“At certain times, when our voters reached at the door of the polling station, the PML-N workers tore down the chits they had obtained from outside inscribed with the serial number of our electoral number,” said Atika Afzal, a supporter of PTI.
“The presiding officer did not have the voters’ lists. It is 3:00pm now and I have been waiting here since 9:00am but the list still hasn’t come. Polling was stopped for one hour because the presiding officer was asking voters whom they are going to vote for,” said Saima Bukhari, a resident of Gulrez.
Senior Superintendent Police Operation Mujahid Akbar ordered police officers to arrest those who were asking voters who they would vote for, but it is unclear whether any arrests were actually made.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS (3)
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I think pml n have the majority and we should accept it. Pti lost in Punjab is not strange at all. They have voter in Punjab but only from upper class who have access to social media. So the point is that all who believe in social media will vote for pti and for those who believe in reality will vote for pml n.
They played unfair with overseas Pakistanis such as my self by not arranging a system to cast votes, and allowing us to vote at last minute. I believe that they should've let the army run the polling stations rather then some sell outs so called presiding officers. Does Pakistan have any future??? If so Unfortunately it doesn't look very bright at the moment.
No wonder they won.