ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Poor arrangements, mismanagement and violation of election rules marred the second phase of the local government elections in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

A visit to various polling stations in Rawalpindi city revealed that a majority of the polling stations, particularly those for women, had been set up in small and congested rooms with no proper furniture available for the polling agents and election staff.

At several polling stations, candidates, polling agents and voters were seen using mobile phones despite a ban imposed on the practice by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). At some places, there were no arrangements to maintain secrecy while casting votes and voters were seen stamping ballot papers in front of other people.

Owing to incomplete arrangements and late arrival of election material, voting started about one hour late at a polling station in Union Council-24 (Dhoke Ali Akbar). Some of the women who had come to cast their votes early in the morning returned home after waiting for some time.

At Government Islamia Higher Secondary School, Murree Road, (UC-46), polling was held in a verandah instead of rooms as there were no fans and light arrangement. When asked as to how they would count votes in the evening when there was no light, the presiding officer said arrangements for the purpose would be made by the time.

At a women polling station in Government Boys Primary School in UC-78, the polling agents did not have voters lists. When asked as to how they were verifying the voters, they said their duty was only to observe the voting process and to ensure smooth polling.

Some woman voters at the polling station of FG Boys High School No.2, Chaklala, in UC-78 complained that male polling officers and policemen were misbehaving with them. Male police personnel were seen roaming around and inside many women polling stations.

Syed Irfan Raza Adds: Absence of a uniform policy on production of national identity cards (NICs) for casting votes created problems for voters as well as the election staff in Rawalpindi, it was learnt.

At some polling stations, people were allowed to poll votes even on the production of driving licences, passports and photocopies of the new and old NICs.

However, at some places, voters were allowed to cast votes only on the provision of the computerized national identity cards (CNICs) and no other documents were accepted for the purpose.

Most of the presiding officers and other polling staff were found to be unaware of the code of conduct for the polls.

It was observed that not a single ECP officer visited any polling station in Rawalpindi city to monitor polls and guide the polling staff.

In Union Council-46, some people tried to cast votes on the production of the receipts issued by the National Database and Registration Authority for provision of CNICs and photocopies of old NICs. It was for this reason that supporters of Shakeel Awan, a candidate for nazim’s slot in Union Council- 46, were barred from polling votes.

However, at a polling station set up in Islamia Higher Secondary School-II in Union Council-45, even driving licences and passports were accepted for casting votes.

When contacted, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said votes could be polled on the production of any other documents besides CNICs, provided all the contesting parties agreed on it.

“Basically, the production of identity cards is only to show nationality and if any person proved it by producing other documents, it serves the purpose,” he said.

Responding to a question about the over all law and order situation in the country during polls, he said except for some causalities, it remained satisfactory.

POLLING SUSPENDED: The minister admitted that some of the workers of his party had stopped polling at a polling station in Pirwadhai area.