KARACHI: Arts Council polls attract large number of voters
By Bahzad Alam Khan
KARACHI, Dec 30: Polling got under way in the annual Arts Council elections on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the general body meeting, amid complaints that the administration failed to make proper arrangements for the polls.
People taking part in the elections canvassed for votes as hundreds of Arts Council members queued up to cast their votes. A large number of members, however, complained that the outgoing governing body had laid down such rules that had prevented them from casting their votes. Besides, they added, the governing body had not deemed it fit to communicate the newly-enforced rules to the members.
An indignant Arts Council member, who waited for his turn to cast his vote for more than two and a half hours, told Dawn that he had been asked to produce his original national identity card.
“I was not allowed to cast my vote because I did not have with me my original national identity card, though I had a copy of it. First, nobody carries original identity card these days. Second, if the administration enforced this new rule, it should have taken the trouble to inform the Arts Council members in advance. Third, the polling staff were not accepting other identification documents, such as the driving licence and office identity card.”
Polling agents told Dawn that the turnout had been around 1,500 but only 1,050 Arts Council members had managed to cast their votes. “Newly-enforced polling rules prevented at least 450 members from casting their votes.”
The hustle and bustle which people expect during Arts Council elections was eminently there as people running for various posts went out of their way to help Arts Council members — around 1,751 in number — cast their votes. Colourful banners announcing the composition of the two panels taking part in the elections had been strung across the lanes. Pamphlets were being distributed with a request, accompanied by a smile, to cast vote in favour of a particular candidate.
Parking was a major problem as all manner of vehicles lined along M.R. Kiyani Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road.
Two panels are taking part in the elections. In one panel, S.H. Hashmi is contesting for the seat of vice president, Saifur Rehman Girami for honorary secretary and Rizwan Siddiqui for honorary treasurer.
In the other panel, Haseeb Ahmed Khan is contesting for the seat of vice president, Qudsia Akbar for honorary secretary and Yavar Mehdi for honorary treasurer.
Both panels have 12 members in their governing bodies.
The first panel has the following members in its governing body: Rehana Mohammad Ali Shah, Mohammad Ayub, Huma Mir, Anjum Ayaz, Talat Hussain, Jawaid Saba, Syed Hasan Zaheer, Najeeb Ahmed, Arshad Mahmud, Syed Sajid Hasan, Aziz Ahmad Ayubi and Shafi Mohammad Shah.
The second panel has the following members in its governing body: S. Akhter Hussain Jafferi, Ibrahim Nafees, Shahnaz Siddiqi, Salamat Kamal, Naqqash Kazmi, Javed Manzar, Syed Hamid, Qasim Jalali, Rabia Zuberi, Owais Adeeb Ansari, Nasim Ahmed Durrani, Mujahid Barelvi and Salma Baig.
Results of the elections are expected to be announced early in the morning. Vote counting was in progress as we went to press.
KARACHI, Dec 30: Polling got under way in the annual Arts Council elections on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the general body meeting, amid complaints that the administration failed to make proper arrangements for the polls.
