October 11, 2002	Friday	Sha'aban 4, 1423

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SARGODHA, Oct 10: Low turnout of voters was witnessed amid reports of scuffles between the supporters of various candidates in Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali and Bhakkar districts of the defunct Sargodha division on Thursday.

Till 12 noon, the turnout remained very low as, in most of the constituencies, candidates provided voters’ lists at their camps at about 9:40am. Turnout in rural areas was stated to be around 30 per cent and in urban areas 20 per cent till 3:30pm.

Except for three polling stations, polling could not start in time. This scribe visited various polling stations of NA-66, and PP-33 and 34 of city and cantonment areas at around 8:30am and found the polling staff present in polling stations. However, no polling agents were sitting there.

At some polling stations, including Haiderabad town, over a dozen bogus votes were reportedly polled.

A European observers team visited Tariqabad and Istiqlalabad and watched polling process. A resident of Tariqabad told this scribe that the observers also inquired about the government’s policies.

Although no government functionary was found involved in the process of polling, the Bhalwal tehsil Nazim and his deputy reportedly forced voters to cast votes in favour of their candidates.

In Laliani town, women exercised their right to vote for the first time.

In NA-66, voting in women polling stations Nos 5 and 6 in Tariqabad town started around midday as supporters of the PML-N candidate allegedly snatched the voters’ lists from the polling staff.

Voting in the women’s polling stations on College Road started after 12 noon as ballot papers were supplied there at around 11:40am. Complaints of rigging in various women’s polling booths were lodged by the agents of contestants.

Polling remained suspended in about half a dozen polling stations as the staff was not adequately trained to handle the process.

It is learnt that Bashir Bharwana snatched a ballot box from the polling staff in Baerowal.

Meanwhile, the Punjab governor has reportedly directed to wind up all the control centres set up by the district government and police for collection of information about polling. He directed that only the returning officer and election commission would submit results.

MULTAN: A low turnout amid sporadic incidents of violence marked the polling day in the district.

No queue was seen at any of the polling stations visited by this correspondent in Multan city and its adjoining areas. Voters’ turnout at the urban polling stations was even low as compared to the rural areas.

At some places in the city the turnout was 15 per cent while in some rural areas it was even 50 per cent. Only 133 votes were cast at polling station No 74 of NA-149 against the total registered 1,196 votes till 3pm.

On the other hand, 900 votes had been cast by 2:30pm at the polling station Nos 9 and 10 of NA-159 and PP-219 against the registered 1,004 votes. Arshad Iqbal Randhawa, the brother of the Punjab chief secretary, of the PML-QA was facing Mian Naveed Jahanian of the PPP from PP-219.

The overall turnout in urban areas was 25 to 30 per cent while in rural areas 30 to 35 per cent. The turnout in posh urban areas was low as compared to the city slums.

Election camps of the PPP were attracting more voters followed by the MMA, the PML-QA and the PML-N.

Except from Multan and Khanewal, the polling in other southern Punjab districts like Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Lodhran, Sahiwal, Pakpattan and Rahimyar Khan remained peaceful. Only the incidents of minor clashes were reported from these districts.

The turnout in Layyah, Rahimyar Khan, Lodhran and Khanewal was learnt to be better than Multan, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Rajanpur and Pakpattan.

FAISALABAD: At polling station No 124 of NA-81 in Ghulam Muhammadabad, Iftikhar Ahmad Gill was arrested while attempting to cast a vote of Sahib Din.

Polling staff foiled attempts by some female voters to cast votes by presenting bogus identity cards at Sher Singwala municipal dispensary (NA-85).

Some youngmen took away 200 ballot papers by dodging the staff of a polling station set up at Chak 117-JB (Dhanola) of NA-81.

Polling remained suspended for about two hours at a women polling station in Chak 233-RB after a clash between polling agents of the PML-QA and the PPP.

Reports said polling remained suspended at Sabria Srajia High School (NA-84), Market Committee (NA-84), Chak 9-JB (NA-81), Sher Singwala (NA-85) following clashes between the supporters of candidates.

Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations in Tandlianwala, Chak Jhumra, Samundari, Satiana, Saddar, Mamunkanjan, Dijkot, Khurrianwala and Narwala.

Polling staff arrived late at 239 city and 119 rural areas polling stations.

The candidates of MMA, Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Pakistan Awami Tehrik and Millat Party failed to appoint their poling agents at most polling stations. However, polling agents of PML-QA, PML-N and PPP were present at all the polling stations.

Teams of the foreign observers and local media also visited different polling stations of the district.

BAHAWALPUR: The polling was held in a peaceful atmosphere in Bahawalpur.

The voters in large number assembled at polling stations after 5pm where various presiding officers allowed them to cast votes. At some places, the polling continued even after 6pm.

The total turnout was 20 to 25 per cent in the city and 35 to 40 per cent in rural areas. However, the turnout particularly in the city areas could have been more if candidates provided voters’ slips with their serial numbers to people a day earlier. A majority of voters could not cast their votes as they were unable to find their names in the electoral lists.

Some 40 per cent turnout was reported from Union Council Nos 1 and 2 which was the highest in the city areas.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district till the filing of this story late at night.

Two teams of 12 foreign observers also visited a number of polling stations in the district.

JHANG: Polling remained peaceful in the Jhang district where the turnout was between 32 and 35 per cent.

There was also no report of rigging and violence from any part of the district.

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Polling for the six national and 13 provincial assembly seats remained peaceful except for a few minor clashes.

Beginning slowly, the polling picked up in the afternoon. Polling stations visited by newsmen suggested a turnout around 35 per cent.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Except for some minor disputes, the polling remained peaceful in the Dera Ghazi Khan district.

The turnout in city and rural areas was not beyond 20 per cent.

NAROWAL: Polling in Narowal district remained peaceful, except for a few incidents of aerial firing.

In NA-117, some workers of the PML-QA forced their entry into polling stations in Baddomalhi, Bathanwala and Saddowala and tried to cast votes after opening fire in the air.