By-Election '13: As army stands guard, voter turnout fails to impress

Most people reportedly didn’t vote as it was not a public holiday and they had to go to work.

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:

Largely owing to the lack of a public holiday on Thursday, the voter turnout remained low for the by-polls at NA-254, PS-95 and PS-103 in Karachi and PS-12 in Shikarpur, according to the polling agents.

However, at PS-64 in Mirpurkhas, NA-235 in Sanghar and NA-237 in Thatta, the turnout was estimated between 25 to 40 per cent at different polling stations.

Voting reportedly started on time at most of the polling stations but people didn’t start coming in till the afternoon.

“We have 900 registered male voters in PS-95 but only 200 had cast their votes till afternoon,” said Mohammad Azam, a presiding officer at the polling station at Shagufta Memorial Secondary School in Ittehad Colony, Orangi. Residents of the constituency said that a public holiday should have been announced since most of the people didn’t vote because of their work timings.

At the Jinnah High School, only 200 votes were cast till 2pm out of the total registered 1,259 votes.

Asif, an assistant polling agent at polling station No. 14 in Gulzar Colony [NA-254], said that the turnout was dismally low, estimated at 15 to 20 per cent, because it was not a public holiday and residents had gone to work without casting their vote. “Its 3pm already but only nine votes have been cast,” he said, adding that no female voter had arrived as yet. Dr Muhammad Atiq, a polling officer at polling station No. 102 in Korangi No.1, also said that polling started on time but the turnout remained very low.

“The workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement are also unhappy that the government did not declare today [Thursday] as a public holiday. Our voters are in different parts of the city and also have to work - how can they manage to vote?” said an MQM activist outside the Salman Nadvi High School at the Abuzar Ghaffari Colony in PS-95.

Resident of Iqbal Market and a housewife, Salma Rehman, 60, however, was satisfied with the polling process at the Jinnah High School at Makhdum Shah Colony. “Since there weren’t many people, it took me less than seven minutes to cast my vote,” said Rehman.

Voter turnout was also reported low at PS-103. Similarly, a low turnout was observed in Shikarpur for the by-polls at PS-12 (Khanpur).

Tight security

For those who came to vote, the presence of army officers at most polling stations in Sindh was a welcoming sight. “I have been performing election duties since 1974, but these elections have been the most peaceful and fair ones,” said Mohammad Rashid, an assistant presiding officer at the Government Girls College at Orangi Town No. 12-L in PS-95. The feeling of “protection” was also felt in NA-254, said a presiding officer, Athar, posted in Bhittai Colony. “I wish we had the same protection on May 11.”

In PS-103, however, leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party complained that the Election Commission of Pakistan failed to deploy army officials at 20 polling stations in the constituency.

Despite tight security by army, police and Rangers, reports of rifts between party workers of PTI and MQM and harassment of voters emerged from PS-103 and NA-254 in Karachi. In total, at least 10 people were injured in the clashes.

In Sanghar, Hussain Bux Dars, said to be a relative of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s candidate Khuda Bux Dars, was killed. PML-F’s MPA Jam Madad Ali alleged that the vehicle of PPP’s MNA Roshan Deen Junejo killed Dars and injured four people. The clash occurred at the Dalyar polling station, number 58, in NA-235. The polling process was suspended around 1:15 pm for more than an hour.

The by-polls in Shikarpur were held peacefully, with army personnel reportedly playing a positive role at all 105 polling stations established in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2013.