KARACHI


Despite fear factor of violence and terrorism, long queues of voters were witnessed at many polling stations, however, lack of availability of polling staff and election material delayed the start of voting process at many polling stations here.
At every polling station, young voters were also seen in queues, who were keen and enthusiastic to use their franchise right for the first time.
During visit to Lyari, Saddar, Defence, Korangi, Landhi and other areas, violation of electoral code was witnessed on many polling stations as voters seen using mobile phones during casting of votes besides workers of political parties roaming freely inside the polling stations.
During visit to polling stations in various areas by this scribe, it was observed that voters were present outside the polling stations to cast their votes before 8am schedule time but voting was delayed on many polling stations due to number of reasons. The mismanagement was visible on side of polling staff and administration in form of not implementing on the codes and instruction issued by the election commission of Pakistan to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The actual voting with enthusiasm witnessed at polling stations in Defence and Clifton areas of NA-250 where MQM’s Khushbakht Shujaat, PTI’s Arif Alvi, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naimatullah Khan and PPP’s Rashid Rabbani were contesting elections. The male and female especially young voters of this posh area thronged to the polling stations to cast their vote.
Male and women voters were seen sitting in scorching heat waiting for their turn to cast vote at polling station at Degree College for Girls in Zamzama in Defence area.
The women voters, majority of them supporters of PTI, told The Nation that they came to use their right to vote for change. They complained that voting ratio was very slow as they were waiting at polling station since 8am in the morning but their turn was not come till 3.15 pm in the evening.  Ismat Jahan, polling agent of PTI candidate, said that election material was arrived late which caused delay in start of voting, besides shortage of election staff also caused slow voting.
Ms. Huma Rizwan, a voter complained that women voters especially who came with the their little kids have returned back without casting of vote due to delay slow voting and delay in their turn as well as scotching heat at polling station. When this scribe reached a polling station in Hyderi Publi School at Sarwar Shaheed Road, established for NA-250 and PS-112 Karachi, the polling was not started till 8:20am. Young voters were seen in queues who came to use their right to vote first time.
The Presiding Officer attributed the lack of availability of the ballot stamp for delay in starting of voting.
Meanwhile, exchange of harsh words was witnessed between a police officer and MQM candidate for PS-112 at Hyderi Public School. Following the brawl, heavy contingent of police and rangers arrived at the polling station and sought the details of the incident. MQM’s candidate Hafiz Sohail told the media that the police personnel were found insulting the women voters and not allowed them enter the polling station to cast their vote. However, the police officer, who was deputed on duty at the main gate of polling station, told the media that he asked the people coming with the candidate to show their identity but they came in anger and threatened him.
At a polling station in school at Christian Town in Korangi, only MQM’s election camps for voters were present as even polling agent of any other party was not present at the polling station.
Fear and tension witnessed at Landhi number 6, where firing between two old rival groups continued since Friday night, leading to delay supply of election material as well as reaching of polling staff at the polling station setup at Baldia City School in area. Heavy contingent of army, rangers and police personnel reached the area of polling station and brought the election material with polling staff to start voting.
The polling staff told this scribe that they spent night at the police station and arrived here with the convoy of security force. They expressed fear due to exchange of firing between two groups in the area, compelling the people not to come out of their houses for voting.
Meanwhile, the enthusiasm was witnessed at the polling station at Muhammad Nagar in Landhi for PS-89, where election camps of Muttahida Deeni Mohaz candidate Aurangzeb Farooqui, ANP and Jamaat-e-Islami available to help the voters.
After blast on ANP’s candidate Amanullah Mehsood’s election office in Qaidababd, the election camps were disbanded and party workers disappeared due to security threats.
Meanwhile, the voting process was seen in smooth way in the various polling stations in Lyari for NA-248 and PS-108 and PS-109, where MQM announced boycott of election in the afternoon during polls as no camps and polling agents from opponent candidates were present in the polling stations.
The voters were seen in queues, indicating more turnout of voting in the elections of 2013.