ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: While the three-member team of the Commonwealth Observers Group, monitoring the electoral process in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday seemed generally satisfied with the arrangements, they took serious note of a glaring irregularity in a few polling stations where the ballot boxes lay open or unsealed.

A visit to some 20 polling stations in Rawalpindi while trailing the Commonwealth observers transpired that contrary to the Election Commission’s claim the staff at quite a few polling booths was untrained and unmindful of its responsibilities.

At a polling station in NA-56 housed in the Agriculture University one unsealed ballot box was identified by a member of the Commonwealth Observer Group, David Connolly.

“Anybody can undo it,” he told the presiding officer. A flimsy seal was detected on another ballot box that easily came off when pulled to check if it was secure.

This glaring omission was promptly photographed by one of the observers. The Pakistani interpreter assisting the Commonwealth team reprimanded the presiding and assistant presiding officers for the oversight, noting that it would go against them. “They will include this in their report,” she said.

Another polling station No 239 in NA-55 also had an unsealed ballot box. The story of the unsealed boxes did not end there. Two more ballot boxes in NA-52, polling booth number 281 in Hayal area of Rawalpindi were found open. “You haven’t locked these,” a baffled Commonwealth observer pointed out to the presiding officer, lifting the lid of one ballot box. The unsealed and open ballot boxes were numbered 1616, 3377 and 3890.

The polling agents, noting that it was the home polling station of PML (Q) candidate Raja Nasir, said they had complained about the unsealed boxes to the presiding officer in the morning but he took no action. The Presiding Officer, Abid Hussain, explained that the ballot boxes were “defective,” at which the observers remarked: “Damaged boxes should not be used.”

The leader of the Commonwealth team, David Connolly, then took it upon himself to get the boxes sealed around 11.30am. On his advice, rope was tied around the ballot boxes which were sealed with the ‘unused’ seal produced by the presiding officer.

The polling staff also had problems with locking the ballot boxes. While wrestling with the locks they damaged the boxes.

A large number of women had turned up at the NA-55 polling station in Rata Amaral Government Girls High School in Rawalpindi, at around 10am. It made one member of team, Mrs Lucy Shigikile remark: “It is very encouraging to see so many women.” Two US Embassy officials were also seen at this station. “We are just observing,” they said when quizzed.

A long queue of women voters was also witnessed at a polling booth in Dhamial at around mid-day. When one woman was asked who she was going to vote for, she promptly replied in Punjabi: “Musharraf nun,” and then hastened to add: “Musharraf di party nun (to Musharraf’s party).”

When observers asked the polling staff at various booths why only a few voters had turned up by mid-day, they were told that people were enjoying the holiday.

Another one remarked that Pakistanis generally get up late and would show up in the afternoon.

The Commonwealth observer’s team moved around amid extremely tight security cover ordered by the government. It was escorted to polling stations by the Punjab Elite force bearing the “No Fear” motto, a private security agency with “Response Force” slogan, besides army and local police.

Later, at the close of polling, David Connolly expressed satisfaction with the overall arrangements made in the twin cities.

“Our observation is that functioning in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been quite well except for some problems,” he said when contacted by Dawn late Thursday night.