KARACHI, Dec 28: Polling got under way in the annual Arts Council election on Sunday afternoon shortly after the conclusion of the general body meeting.

People taking part in the election canvassed for votes, as hundreds of Arts Council members queued up to cast their votes.

Polling agents told Dawn that though the Arts Council had more than 3,000 members, only 2,065 members were the eligible voters.

They added that the annual general body meeting had concluded around 1.30pm and the polling began at 2pm. The polling continued till 9pm after which the counting of votes started.

The hustle and bustle that people expect during the elections was eminently there, as people running for various posts went out of their way to help the voters. Colourful banners, announcing the composition of the two panels taking part in the elections, were strung across the lanes. Pamphlets were being distributed with a request, accompanied by a smile, to cast vote in favour of a particular candidate.

Parking was a major problem as all manner of vehicles lined along M.R. Kiyani Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road.

The candidates contesting elections for the post of vice- president are Huma Bokhari, Wakeel Faruqui and Khushbakht Shujaat. The candidates contesting election for the post of general-secretary are Farhad Zaidi, Farah Zeba and Yavar Mehdi. The candidates contesting election for the post of treasurer are Rizwan Siddiqui, Azfar Rizvi and Zareen Fatima.

Those contesting election for the governing council are Saifur Rehman Grami, Talat Hussain, Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, Ayesha Khan, Seema Ghazal, Azra Riaz, Anwar Ali Roomi, Shahnaz Siddiqui, Arshad Mahmood, Mohammad Ayub, Ghulam Nabi Moorai, Aneeq Ahmad, Owais Adib Ansari, Anwar Hussain, Seema Tahir Khan, Athar Javed Sufi, Ibrahim Nafees, Sultana Siddiqui, Naqqash Kazimi, Qasim Jalali, Aftab Alam, Rehana Mohammad Ali Shah, Arshad Mahmood, Salma Baig, Mansoor Zubairi, Arshad Islam, Mohammad Sadiq and Najamuddin Shaikh.

Results of the election are expected to be announced in the early hours of Monday.