BADIN, Feb 18: Amid political tension and fear of terrorism, Sindh went to polls on Monday in a cautious way as, excepting ‘early birds’ of Kandhkot-Kashmore district, polling stations remained almost empty in the early hours and voting gained momentum only after 11pm.
In Badin district, polling was generally held in peaceful manner. Snatching of ballot papers and other election material at gunpoint from four polling stations of taluka Talhar (PS-56) were reported and FIRs were also registered at concerned police stations.
According to presiding officer Jam Khan Jarwar of the Dada polling station (PS-35), when the staff was asleep at polling station, some armed men in two cars and in a double cabin arrived there at 5.40am in the wee hours of Monday, they took away all election material. Later, after having stamped the ballot papers, they threw it back.
When contacted, returning officer Mr Inayatullah said that FIRs would be registered after beginning of voting process.
Similarly, the ballot papers were taken away on gunpoint from other polling stations, including Wadhiyo Arain, Umerdin Punjabi and Haroon Mallah. The voting process at these polling stations of NA-224 and PS-56 Talhar resumed at 11am.
In Nawabshah district, polling remained peaceful except a few minor incidents, and unlike 2002 general elections, a reasonable turnout was noticed. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were patrolling in the district. However, no untoward incident took place in any part of the district till the end of polling process.
In Mirpurkhas district, polling remained peaceful and turnout was reported 40-45 per cent.
Workers of different political parties brought voters to polling stations. Turnout of both male and female voters was good as people were seen standing in long queues.
Polling was suspended for half an hour at government male elementary college where panic spread after a bomb hoax but after checking, the polling station was cleared and polling was resumed.
Polling in Umerkot district was also held in peaceful atmosphere and amidst strict security arrangements. Voters turnout was about 40 per cent in the district.
In Thatta district, amid violence and alleged rigging, polling for two national assembly and five provincial assembly seats of the district was held.
A media team, which visited 54 polling stations, mainly highly sensitive in far-off constituencies of PS-88 Ghorabari, PS-85 Mirpur Sakro, PS-86 Mirpur Bathoro and NA 237 and 238, witnessed 22 per cent turnout with a tilt towards PPP at these polling stations.
At Shafiabad polling station, PPP candidate Sassui Palijo and PML-Q Shirazi group, Amir Haider Shah exchanged hot words which resulted in a clash between activists of both the parties, however law enforcement agency personnel controlled the situation.
Similar incident was reported at polling station Chari near Jangshahi, where PPP local leader Ali Sher Brohi scuffled with provincial minister for food and agriculture and Shirazi group leader, Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, who violating the rules entered the polling station. DRO Thatta and Rangers reached the site and controlled the situation.
At PS-85 Mirpur Sakro, Qazi Ahsan, a close associate of the then chief minister, forcibly took away one of the ballot boxes from the polling station. At polling station Punhoon Chang a PML-Q activist Javed Ghani was manhandled by PPP activists and situation went out of control but Major Atif brought the situation under control.
At polling station Borano Bungalow, the district nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi and taluka nazim Akram Shah manhandled PPP agents, dragged them out of polling station and reportedly stamped ballots. PPP candidate for NA-238, Arbab Wazir immediately apprised the law agencies personnel who stopped him doing so. Till that time some 3,000 votes were cast within half an hour.
At Akhund Baradya polling station in Thatta town, Rangers resorted to baton charge on voters and activists which resulted into suspension of polling process, however it was resumed after half an hour.
At Taj Mohammad Abbasi polling station, PPP activists manhandled nazim UC Thatta, Kamran Ghani for unnecessarily intervening in polling process. In Jherruk, Rangers detained PML-Q candidate for PS-84, Syed Fayaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, for displaying arms. However, he was let off after two hours.
Polling station Imam Bux Gaho, Dar Malook Shah, Mamoon Dachar, Rawat Magsi, Haji Ismail Jatt, Gharo (female-I) and Jherruk (female-I) also remained disturbed due to violence and reports of rigging. Tension prevailed in entire Thatta district while forces continued patrolling.
In Dadu turnout in early hours remained low, however it increased and later shot up to 45 to 55 per cent.
Male booth of Drigh Bala polling station was closed for three hours when ballot papers went short at NA-232 Dadu II. Voting process resumed later.
PPP agent Lahino Khan at Drigh Bala polling station alleged that presiding officer was favouring PML-Q candidate for NA-232, Liaquat Ali Jatoi. Around 45-55 per cent turnout was reported in polling stations of Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Sita road towns.
In Khairpur, polling started late in some areas in the district while disturbances were also reported in many polling stations during the voting process due to which voting was also suspended for sometime.
In Jacobabad, armed men took away ballot papers from polling station Rajab Pahore primary school of NA-209 and PS-15. Armed men held hostage the staff at polling station Adam Panhwar primary school Mehrabpur of NA-208 and PS-13. However, PPP candidate Aijaz Jakhrani along with DRO Jacobabad reached the spot after which the polling was restored.
People were in a fix whether to cast vote or not as they feared clashes. At polling station No.14 Jacobabad city, no presiding officer was available but the polling continued and candidates complained about non- existence of their names in the voters lists.
Former speaker National Assembly, Illahi Bux Soomro told Dawn that the sister of Prime Minister was visiting every polling station and allegedly delaying the process and Prime Minister’s wife was also visiting polling stations along with heavy contingent of police and she might try to rig the polls.
When contacted, sister of caretaker Prime Minister, Maleeha Malik denied the charges.
PPP candidate alleged that technical rigging was carried out as there were huge anomalies in the voters lists which were deliberately prepared.
Caretaker Prime Minister, Mohammedmian Soomro and his mother, district nazim Begum Saeeda cast their votes at polling station 126 in their native village Ahmed Mian Soomro.
In district Kashmore-Kandhkot, a 30 per cent turnout was noticed.
In Tharparkar district, a good number of PPP candidates’ agents were reportedly forcibly driven away or were not allowed to sit as agents by the supporters of PML-Q at polling stations Khetlari, Visasar, Kot Arbab Mir Mohammad, Bhorilo, Hariar, Phulu Ji Wandh, Depiar, Katan, Unro, Bilawal Otho and others.Polling station No 2 of Chelhar town was found closed when a team of journalists visited it. Later, DCO Aftab Ahmed Memon visited it and got the election process resumed.
No PPP agents were seen at Chelhar polling station No. 1 at two booths, however, agents of PML-Q were present. Some PPP voters, who were standing outside the polling station, complained that the supporters of PML-Q were not allowing them to cast vote. Abdul Ghani Khoso, former taluka nazim of Nagarparkar and chief polling agent of Sharjil Inam Memon, candidate for PS-62, was taken away by the police when he was visiting polling station Unher.
Unconfirmed reports were also received that ballot boxes were forcibly stuffed by the influential supporters of PML-Q at polling stations of Gungio, Visasar, Bhorilo and Kantio.
