Infringements: Supporters, party leaders violate ECP code
Campaigning, forced casting, ‘purchase’ of votes and violence observed.
Pakistani political party activists clash near a womens polling station after an incident during voting for the general election. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/KARACHI/NANKANA SAHIB:
The code of conduct for polls stipulated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not strictly followed at polling stations in the country.
The poll body had prohibited the establishment of camps within a 400-metre radius from polling stations, the provision of transport to voters by parties, issuance of receipts at camps, violence, campaigning and use of force at polling stations.
Islamabad-Rawalpindi
In the rural areas of Islamabad, some party workers urged voters to stamp ballots in favour of their respective candidates. Moreover, at least five political camps in these areas were established within a 400 meter radius from polling stations.
Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Raza Shah provided over two dozen mini vans decorated with party flags to transport voters to polling stations. Though the PML-N did the same, it did not display party flags on vehicles.
Similarly, reports of providing voters with traditional chits/receipts were also received from almost all the polling stations of the twin cities.
Party activists were also found playing party anthems on speakers near polling stations.
Karachi
From various polling stations across the city, The Express Tribune received complaints of poll rigging and delays in polling.
Several polling stations in the city were taken over by political workers who stamped piles of ballot papers in favor of their parties.
There were also numerous reports of polling agents being taken hostage, beaten up and then forced out of the polling station so that the party workers could blatantly rig the polls.
Peshawar
Political party workers were seen harassing and beating presiding officers, causing much chaos in many Peshawar polling stations.
Moreover, parties set up their camps right in front of the polling stations and political leaders entered the polling stations to influence voters.
Apart from this, political parties were seen trying to ‘purchase’ votes. Members and workers of some parties were holding bundles of money, and standing outside polling stations, trying to lure the voters into selling their votes.
Punjab
A number of clashes, incidents of aerial firing, disruption of polling, late delivery of ballot papers and late arrival of polling staff along with a shortage of election material were reported in Faisalabad district.
Polling in most of South Punjab went without incident, except in Bhakkar where two men died in a fight between supporters of the PML-N and an independent candidate.
In districts Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura, violations of the ECP code of conduct have been observed in the presence of the police and army, with many voters being forced to cast votes for certain candidates.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2013.
The code of conduct for polls stipulated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not strictly followed at polling stations in the country.
The poll body had prohibited the establishment of camps within a 400-metre radius from polling stations, the provision of transport to voters by parties, issuance of receipts at camps, violence, campaigning and use of force at polling stations.
Islamabad-Rawalpindi
In the rural areas of Islamabad, some party workers urged voters to stamp ballots in favour of their respective candidates. Moreover, at least five political camps in these areas were established within a 400 meter radius from polling stations.
Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Raza Shah provided over two dozen mini vans decorated with party flags to transport voters to polling stations. Though the PML-N did the same, it did not display party flags on vehicles.
Similarly, reports of providing voters with traditional chits/receipts were also received from almost all the polling stations of the twin cities.
Party activists were also found playing party anthems on speakers near polling stations.
Karachi
From various polling stations across the city, The Express Tribune received complaints of poll rigging and delays in polling.
Several polling stations in the city were taken over by political workers who stamped piles of ballot papers in favor of their parties.
There were also numerous reports of polling agents being taken hostage, beaten up and then forced out of the polling station so that the party workers could blatantly rig the polls.
Peshawar
Political party workers were seen harassing and beating presiding officers, causing much chaos in many Peshawar polling stations.
Moreover, parties set up their camps right in front of the polling stations and political leaders entered the polling stations to influence voters.
Apart from this, political parties were seen trying to ‘purchase’ votes. Members and workers of some parties were holding bundles of money, and standing outside polling stations, trying to lure the voters into selling their votes.
Punjab
A number of clashes, incidents of aerial firing, disruption of polling, late delivery of ballot papers and late arrival of polling staff along with a shortage of election material were reported in Faisalabad district.
Polling in most of South Punjab went without incident, except in Bhakkar where two men died in a fight between supporters of the PML-N and an independent candidate.
In districts Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura, violations of the ECP code of conduct have been observed in the presence of the police and army, with many voters being forced to cast votes for certain candidates.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2013.