Voters line up at a Karachi polling station. PHOTO: AFP
Re-elections at two other provincial assembly constituencies, PS-112 and PS-113 also closed at the same time.
Around 86,316 voters were expected to cast their votes during the re-elections, but initial reports suggest voter turnout was low.
Two major parties, the MQM and the PPP had boycotted the re-elections, leaving only the PTI and a few independents as competitors in the constituency. The majority of those who came out to vote were PTI supporters Express News reported.
Troops, police and paramilitary rangers backed up by armoured personnel carriers guarded the 43 polling stations in the NA-250 constituency, following claims of ballot-stuffing during the May 11 general election.
A total of 5,000 security personnel were deployed inside and outside the polling stations, maintaining strict law and order.
An election official said turnout was initially assessed at more than 40 percent despite scorching weather and the gunning-down late Saturday of a PTI official.
"We want a change - a real change in our country because we are fed up with the current political set up, which is just disappointing," housewife Arifa Aslam told AFP as she waited in a long queue Sunday to cast her vote.
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END OF LIVE UPDATES
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4:05pm
The Express Tribune correspondent Noman Ahmed reports that several hundred voters were unable to cast votes at the polling station of Ismail Allahwala Secondary School located in Delhi Colony.
SM Talha - who was serving as the presiding officer - told The Express Tribune that a total of four polling stations, 111 to 114, were established at the school on May 11. According to the re-polling notification, however, only those voters will be allowed to cast votes whose names were registered at polling stations number 113 and 114, said Talha.
Many voters expressed disappointment as they claimed that extensive vote-rigging was carried out at all the four polling stations set-up in the school premises. “This all appears a drama as it is unjustified and unreasonable to allow the re-polling at two polling stations while leaving out the other two,” said Muhamamd Huzaifa who arrived to cast vote but could not find his name in the list.
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3:19pm
There has been only 35% voter turnout at polling station number 168 at DHA Girls College Phase VIII, reports Express News.
A polling agent shows only four votes cast at a polling station inside Aaisha Bawani Secondary School. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ EXPRESS
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2:22pm
Voting at polling stations 140-144 at DHA Degree College for Men at Khayaban-e-Rahat was well-organised and smooth, reports The Express Tribune correspondent Zahrah Mazhar.
Army personnel were deployed around and inside the stations. The polling staff was also highly organised. Voter turnout, however, looked average as compared to the turnout on May 11.
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2:10pm
There is hardly 10% voter turnout at Bay View Junior School, Clifton block 9 polling station, reports The Express Tribune's Sohail Khattak.
PTI cupcakes being distributed outside a polling station. PHOTO: @MianFarhanUllah
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2:00pm
Voter turnout is still extremely low across polling stations.
Unlike May 11, security is tight for the ongoing re-elections.
Army presence inside NA-250 polling station. PHOTO: @ammarfaruki
At some polling stations, there is more security and media personnel present than voters.
Security at one polling station. PHOTO: @danahmedkhan
Security inside a polling station. PHOTO: @adeelabadshah
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Army visiting polling station on Khyaban-e-Mujahid around noon. PHOTO: @yaarakhaana
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11:12am
Voter turnout is relatively higher at polling stations number 100 and 101 in Aaisha Bawani Secondary School, with 39 votes cast so far, reports The Express Tribune correspondent Noman Ahmed.
There are no reports of security issues at any of the polling stations.
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11:08am
In all polling stations of PS-112, voters are complaining that their votes have been reshuffled and placed at other polling stations, which is causing them inconvenience, according to The Express Tribune correspondent Sohail Khattak.
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10:42am
Only one vote has been cast at polling station number 97 and 98, set up in Aaisha Bawani Secondary School since 8am, reports The Express Tribune correspondent Noman Ahmed.
Voter turnout remains low despite heavy security. Army personnel are deployed inside polling stations and police and Rangers outside the stations.
All polling agents are also present.
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10:00am
Voter turnout is low at polling station no. 11 in the Gari Khata area near Bolton Market, reports The Express Tribune correspondent Ali Ousat.
Police are snap-checking across the city to ensure security.
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Police personnel inside a polling station at DHA model school. PHOTO: @adeelabadshah
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9:25am
In Hijrat Colony, there were two polling stations – 56 and 57 – in Jamshed Ahmed Khan Lower Secondary School on May 11, but today, polling station number 57 has been shifted elsewhere, reports The Express Tribune correspondent Sohail Khattak.
Voters registered at polling station no. 57 are facing troubles as they are unaware of where their polling station is located.
Voters have also complained of not being able to cast their ballots using a copy of their CNIC. Presiding officer Hamid Raza at polling station no. 56 told The Express Tribune that he has strict instructions of only allowing voters to use their original CNIC to cast a vote.
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9:08am
Elections were abruptly cancelled at polling station number 138 in DHA Phase IV. The polling staff, when contacted, did not cite any reason for the issue.
Polling began as per schedule at polling station number 168 in DHA Phase VII, which was designated for men. Due to some confusion, women voters also arrived at polling station number 169, but were not allowed to vote as their votes were already cast on May 11.
The re-polling was announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after several parties and voters complained of rigging and severe mismanagement at NA-250 polling stations on May 11.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters held several protests demanding re-elections in all constituencies of Karachi, while Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) held demonstrations demanding the ECP to hold re-elections at all polling stations of NA-250.
After ECP's announcement of re-elections at 43 polling stations, the MQM boycotted the elections.
COMMENTS (74)
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DA Model School looks great will mr.alvi with his pa members manage to convert some schools of pNt colony or adjacent kachhi abadie of dha like DA MoDel School?? can theyy bring change in this regards ?
So the wrong we witnessed in NA-250 has been righted. Lets see if PTI will do a "dharna" in Punjab specially Lahore now to right the wrongs that were done in those polling stations as well. Or their leader has already done his "muk-muka" with Nawaz Sharif??
@Aftab, Keep in mind the brutal killing of PTI leader Zahra Shahid night before re-polling and you have the answer to your low turn-out question.
@daniyal: Please stop crying. I wish ECP allows for the re-election in Hyderabad and Karachi than we will see who is fooling who.
Imran Khan is fooling the supporters of pti nd playing game with our some fool people by asking for change. In NA-250 there is no election but yes its selection
If Alvi and PTI have any political sense they should voluntarily abandon the seat i.e. in the unlikely event that alvi turns out to be a winner of the whole constituency despite the poor turnout today. If not, then he should be prepared to be the laughing stock of the House for succeeding in a Hosni Mubarak style referendum.
We dont want any bridges, roads, flyovers or ambulance services made from Bhatta ka paisa or forced qurbani ki khalon ka paisa
ecp held a good election but people of pti is gready
Where was all this army and rangers on May 11, when such blatant rigging was going on????
Nice new name for MQM..na maloom afraad
It must now be obvious to PTI that they suffer from poor leadership both in Khi and at nationsl level. Their kneejerk reaction to the election results has now robbed them of the respect and acceptance they could have otherwise earned by making atleast a modest, if not earth shaking entry, in the political arena. It is no secret that mqm mandate has regional rather than national connotation. If PTI wanted to win the heart and minds of Karachiites, then it should have come up with a concrete agenda for Karachi especially given the erstwhile anti Karachi stance of aimran Khan for much if the 80s. Sadly, PTI is otself to blame for wrapping its feet around itself.
@Aaliya: @Aysha What happened in Punjab? PTI has shouted hoarse but no re polling on any of the supposedly rigged Seats Can you see the smirk on Saad Rafique;s face? "Chal hut parey"....
The question here is can PTI give blood? Because this is the only way you can do politics here.
I am amazed by the resistance showed by burgers in Shahzeb's case and more so after 11th May, but the question remain can they fight for themselves?
Can somebody explain the poorest turnout in NA 250 re-polling despite a holiday and tight security? Doesn't it show that MQM and PPP are the most popular parties in this area? This area always has seen close fight in previous elections - for example, last time MQM candidate won by only about 9,000 votes against PPP candidate. Till the last news PTI candidate has secured only 7,000 votes in total with an overall turnout of 10%-15%!
My faith in MQM has increased many folds these are hard times , but they will overcome and all the insaaf has been exposed ALL MQM was asking was that we have a re-election in the whole of 250 and not just marked upper class polling stations in the presense of army ofcourse ,what was wrong in that we would have got a clear mandate wether alvi aur khushbakhat baji , now what it looks so silly alvi a lone horse in the race and also claiming a win all farce,
This is what happened here in KPK our turnouts were around 40-45% and ANP voters were scared to come out. Ghulam bilour was even forced to accept defeat because he couldn't jeopardize any more civilian lives for a fairer election in KPK. Elections in KPK were merely selection as well and in our areas TTP selected who would win and who would lose. PTI voters talk about fair elections were ANP given a level playing field in KPK? The answer to this question is a simple NO but just because PTI won it was free and fair. Not to take anything away from PTI they did win because of strong support by their voters but still ANP wasn't even in contention from at least two months prior to elections. ANP walay to becharay Dharna bhi nahi ker saktay.
May Allah Almighty help people of Karachi in getting rid of " NAMALOOM AFRAAD" who have besieged the city for almost three decades. Now Its upto the people of Karachi as to what they decide. Whether they stand up against all the injustices being done against them as a routine or they like to maintain the status-quo. Extortion of money, forcible skin collection, fitrana, zakaat and what not. Karachi has unfortunately become a mafia state.
@Babablacksheep: They have the right to complain. Even after video evidences and rigging in whole karachi not just NA250, ECP re-polling still has loop holes and issues, than they should complain until the whole process is ironed out completely no matter how long it takes. people have woken up and like any other democratic county have right to demand fairness no matter how many times it takes.
This is not election but selection. Everybody knows that Dr Alvi will win if he hasn't performed a feat for an otherwise result. To correct this selection, election should be held in all over NA 250 again. Similarly, to correct the selection in whole of Karachi, given most of the political parties had boycotted these polls by noon, re-elections should be held throughout Karachi.
Pity you who can't see PPP ,JI , ANP and other religious parties complaining rigging on May 11th bycotted all elections one by one ,so what's the importance of fake mandate grasped by MQM then? when all major political parties bycotted,Now when its free and fair and chances are that MQM would lose you are saying elections are not legitimate !!
Wow if MQM does rigging apart from all parties(leftists and rightists) complaining then elections are legitimate but if only MQM did bycott then elections are illegitimate!!
The truth is odds were against us but we fought till the end and victory belongs to the fighters!!
@Aysha: It was 90s not 2013 everyone knows MQM is a mafia
I have followed all print and electronic media but strangely enough no reporter or TV anchor has pointed out the significance of re polling in 43 polling stations in overall context. Right now there are updates of voting results without any reference to lead required by PTI to win NA 251 constituency. Due to low turn out most probably it wont make any difference. Nevertheless the standard of reporting including Express Tribune is non professional, childish and without any meaning what so ever. Without reference to overall context, its absolutely meaningless.
Moderator ET: Can you publish my criticism in real time?
@Muhammad Ziad: lol, You people are just nuts, Hey, he seems to be fit and slim not like some of the police officers, any way leave that poor guy alone. He seems tired and who will not be in Karachi. Take care.
@Noman Ansari: Ha ha gud ()ne !
@Babo Rao: I need a life if your leader allow me and family to live peacefully in Karachi. your party is exposed because of the social media. do you know how to search on internet or you need my help to share the links. you people created a mess at NA250 so that you guys can play your game at remaining polling stations.
@Aysha and everyone else who is calling it 'selection' not election: there is so much evidence that rigging happened in this area and many of the polling stations didn't even open for voting so it's natural to have re-polling. I just fail to understand why MQM would boycott it! Yea, it would be nice to have it in all of NA-250 but if ECP doesn't want that then this is better than nothing, right? Only reason I can think of for MQM boycotting these elections is that they were afraid they'd lose because they can't repeat what happened on May 11 in front of the army. If MQM won this seat fairly then there is absolutely no reason for boycotting these elections. Cherry on top is people like you complaining that these are not elections but selection. Tell me again, who asked you to sit out of the game??
Because boycott has no legal value. So if the total votes polled by MQM candidate exceed PTI candidate it will win despite the boycott. Thats what MQM is aiming for. They think they have enough votes from other polling stations and if they scare away voters from these 43 polling stations they will win despite the boycott. That will be the real display of power for MQM
Low turnout because MQM supporters did not turn up. Fear and threats to life were there even on may 11th.
A simple thought: ECP is at a total failure. Yes they allowed repolling at NA 250 but what about other seats. This entire election is a farce as I spoke to many people in MQM areas and they said we want to vote for other parties but MQM workers stood on their head and made them forcefully stamp MQM slots. When this is the situation then how can this be fair. This means there is doubt on all seats. Why wasn't the army allowed inside. Why weren't their any cameras inside, how could the ECP not anticipate this? So this means we all have to wait for another 5 years for proper elections? How can MQM be stopped from forcing people to vote in their favor?
Omg, check the soldier at 2:00pm update, the first pic. Poor fellow, how is he even in the army!?
@Noman Ansari: You mean MQM goons
Imran khan Declare Therek insaf is a party who card for justice my qestion is that when major parties in this election are not taking participatin they should also demand for reelection in whole area.this is unjustice they are runing alone and other parties are sitting a side.
Taking pictures inside polling stations is illegal. Posting these images is abating a crime.
Re-polling @ NA250 is a friendly match between ECP & MQM..
I wonder how many ayshas and Mohammad Ali Siddiquis are left with MQM? Well you need your fingertips to count them all.
@anees: ONLY ONE HORSE IS IN THE RACE SO WHAT IS THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS ELECTION SORRY SELECTION! LOL
Finally Pakistan Army and other law enforcing agencies have taken the action which were suppose to be taken on May 11, 2013 throughout the country.
Had similar actios been taken on May 11, 2013, there would have not been a single complaint of irregularity in the entire country.
Sooner or later, government takes the same steps and actions as I have been suggesting through my writing and suggesting on election related security issues to the ECP.
I regret that since actions as suggested by me were not taken timely by ECP and other related administration, this has resulted in uproar, in killings of innocent people, lost of public and private properties, dharnas, more political rivalry, hatred among different factions and political uncertainty.
@Aysha: we are no more in 90's. MQM is in power for more than a decade and your governor is still in power. do you know how many people lost their lives during MQM era including MQM workers or supporters? now MQM should accept their failure and allow other parties to look after Karachi even your leader don't trust MQM leadership as he still refuses to come back to Pakistan.
@Babablacksheep: i agree h ur sentiments
MQM is a response to the racial bigotry by parties such as PPP and PML-N! Just as PPP and PML-N represent the Sindhis and the Pujabis, MQM represents the Mohajirs! As long as PPP and PML-N remain in Pakistan, MQM as a response to racial bigotry will also remain! Why is only MQM being targeted on poll-rigging grounds? Why not PML-N? Why not PPP? Why ONLY MQM? This is because all of this is a conspiracy against the Mohajir people, and these so called educated modern youth are falling in the trap of this racism! I will support MQM as long as PPP AND PML-N remain! These people are singling out the Mohajirs. Have you people forgotten the days when the Mohajir students could not get into universities? Just because they were Mohajirs? MQM is a response to this evil! PTI is a joke, it is full of racist candidates and I can tell you this, if we Pakistanis keep on supporting their racist candidates, then it will not be long until they turn Pakistan into another Syria!
Re-polling at particular polling stations :o :o, Its a friendly match between ECP & MQM. We should reject this and strongly demand for repolling throughout Karachi & Hyderabad as well as Punjab !
what is happening why is it not avident that all is a fight between nine zero representing have nots against combined force of bni gala, raiwind zardari house together. I pity PTI , turning against insaaf which they claim to be struggling for , against all fairness that election sould have been held in all the NA250 , havenots who are in majority are denied their vote by the the minority haves well so much for naya pakistan .
WHAT do you expect when people are in fear of their lives and are too scared to leave their houses?
When you kill the vice-president of a major political party a day before the re-election that are taking place on the insistence of that particular party's supporters. You expect people to actually step out of their houses? That's like inviting death.
As many dharnas I've been to. As many protests I've been a part of. I'm ashamed to say that even I wouldn't go out to vote, today. Though I'm in Lahore.
low turnout.... na maloom afraad's message recieved loud and clear....
So that's why certain parties did a boycott. They knew that through their subsequent actions, no one else would show up?
Its not about winning or loosing, its about right and wrong ! I as a PTI supporter in least interested in winning but more in fair elections all over Karachi !
Just found on tele that PTI still making complains about the polling . Hopeless
Kassah Army did their job on 11 May we would have great Pakistan
For Karachi both Nawaz & Imran are agreed to kick out MQM. Its now about to the Karachiites to support those forces who disown Karachi from the day one or support those who fought for their rights "may tabdili laoin ga" (now in agreement with Nawaz) my foot
@Fudge: I would like to answer on behalf of Ayesha! the plot of movie is the same as 90s only the actors are new!! so what you get after boycott of major parties this election has no meaning at all!!!!Salams
@bilal: get a life! elections cannot be win from the social media it could happen only in posh localities and this election oh sorry selection would not make any sense since only one horse in the race and the ground is vacant.regards
@Fudge: Losing ground in Karachi, nothing more than wishful thinking,
Mustafa Kamal managed billions of rupees, didnt pocket a paisa, so nothing is lost, this is what is bothering those who are desperate to demonstrate some level of popularity in the masses.
In 2002 elections MQM lost 5 seats to MMA, the party concede d, there was no dharna culture introduced in the political fragile environment of the country.
@Fudge: still dont,
Use less exercise for Na-Maloom afrad.
@Aysha: you didn't need riggin then. Now, very much so.
@Aysha: I will reply on Bilal's behalf. That was 20 years ago! Its not the 90s anymore when there was no media and very little coverage. Talk of now! Your party is clearly starting to lose ground in Karachi. THAT you are having to defend here and be apologetic speaks volumes, now clearly you didn't need that in the 90s, did you? P.S I was around in the 90s.
@Fudge: Polling was delayed in the majority of NA-250 stations, a re-poll in the entire constituency was what ECP should have organized for and PTI in all fairness should have supported that. What does winning amount to when there is only contestant, all other parties have boycotted. Anyways, the outcome of today's election would only be temporary, once the whole issue goes through the legal process, there will be fresh poll in NA 250.
@bilal: Those of us who have recently developed interest in politics, which would obviously be short lived,should know that in the 90s, Army was in and around the polling stations during elections, and then also MQM was a clear winner
@Aysha: SO who is stopping the other parties from participating?! this re-poll is strictly to correct ECP's administrative/logistical failures on May 11th, not according to the wishlist of PTI! If there are people willing to vote for MQM then what are you so afraid of? Also, no such discrepancies were observed in other (excluded) polling stations of NA250, so no reason to have a re-poll there! First you quit and then you complain, its like a baby crying!
@Aysha: how can you call it scripted because your respectful workers cant do anything in front of the army. the whole world have seen the videos. you can also get them from social media
Is nothing else happening in the country today, except for NA-250 scripted selection
@Aysha: lol why because MQM thingy is not accepted by ECP? lets do the re-election throughout Hyderabad and Karachi. we all know how the rigging was performed by your respectable workers. grow up tired of the old politicians and you are equally responsible for throwing Pakistan into destruction.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: How can you make such a claim without any logic? Not a single press report has indicated the MQM lead in other polling stations on May 11. Remember the re polling is being done on about 25% polling stations. So without knowing the full picture (which no channel has painted), there is no point in aiming arrows in the air. We are deliberately being kept in dark.
ECP's bais at its best
Useless excercise.........???
What one can expect the result of NA-250 when only one horse is in the race.
The private TV Channels and ECP will declare the results in the evening, but I am writing this even before noon that Dr. Arif Alvi has won the NA-250 election from Karachi.
What else the readers want's to know more about NA-250?
Is this called election or selection?
ECP is again showing incompetence. How could they NOT get it right again?
Some Tweets from Awab Alvi:
How is it that polling stations are yet again NOT open? This was a chance to correct a mistake.
God willing there will be a huge turnout. These intimidation tactics by 'na maloom afraad' won't work.
There is no value of this re-polling in selected areas of NA250, since all the major political parties have boycott it
Who would be to blame if god forbid PTI looses again lol
Bais at its best