KARACHI, April 30: The Presidential Referendum-2002 lacked traditional fervour and enthusiasm in the PPP-dominated areas in Lyari and old town areas.

In the morning, the polling in most of the localities was slow but at some places it gained momentum in the afternoon. People either preferred staying indoors or engaged themselves in their routine jobs.

There was no traditional festive atmosphere which was often witnessed on such occasions in the past because of setting up of polling stations.

The heavy rush of voters could not be witnessed because of too many polling stations, a polling officer remarked.

A visit to various polling stations in Baghdadi, Shah Beg Chawkiwara and other localities showed that the turn-out was poor.

At PS 185 near Fida Husain Shaika Road in Baghdadi, only 80 votes were cast by 12pm, while the number of votes cast in PS 186 was: male 29 and female 16 by 12.30pm.

The votes polled in PS No 195 were: male 45 and female 2 at 12.35 pm. In PS 197, the votes cast were: male 57 and female 5. The number of votes at PS 194 were: male 100 and female 30 at 12.35pm.

At PS 191 on Haji Pir Mohammad Road, Baghdadi, the turn-out was: male 44 and female at 12.40pm while the turn-out at PS 248 at 1.45pm was: male 22 and female 6 and at 275 PS the turn-out was: male 24 and female 5.

At the Aaat Chowk, the turn-out at PS 417 was: male 157 male and female 6, while at PS 418 Chawkiwara the votes polled were: male 28 and female 3.

Similarly, the votes polled at PS 120 were: male 85 and female 7 till 1pm.

The turn-out at PS 414 was: male 72 and female 32 at 1.25 pm.

At 1-30pm, the turn-out at PS 203 at Al-Hamad Apartment near Ghazi Qayyum Hospital was: male 19 and female 11 till 1-30.

However, heavy turn-out was witnessed at PS 172 near Lea Market. The votes cast were male 172 and female 68 till 1-40pm.

The turnout at PS 190 at Asumal School Baghdadi D.D. Chaudhri Road was: male 50 and female 52 while at PS 196 the turnout was: male 50 and female 50 till 2pm.

Similarly, at PS 209 Basra Colony D.D. Chaudhry Road, the # turn-out was: male 165 and female 95, while at PS 224 D.D. Chaudhry Road, the turn-out was: male 200 and female 300 till 2pm.

At 3pm, the turn-out at the polling station was: male 89 and female 10.

In PS 200 Shah Latif Bhittai Road, the number of votes were: male 108 and female 22 at 3.10pm while in PS the turn-out was male 74 and female 22 by 3.10pm and at PS 118 near Ali Hotel, the turn-out was: male 60 and female 33 at 3.15pm.

The turn-out at other polling stations was: PS 189: male 75 and female 80 at 3.15pm. At PS 273, the turn-out was: 120 male and female.