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BAHAWALPUR, Aug 18: Inadequate facilities, shortage of polling material and mismanagement at almost all polling stations put most of the voters off. The turnout in most of the districts was not as anticipated, though emotions ran high among the public.
The polling process in most of the stations for women in Bahawalpur union councils was marred by mismanagement. At some places women tried in vain to stamp ballot papers by themselves.
The presiding officers concerned complained that the process remained disorderly because of shortage of lady police.
A total of 4,258 candidates tried their luck for 10,351 seats in Bahawalpur district’s 107 UCs.
DPO Arif Nawaz told Dawn that the elections were conducted smoothly at all sensitive polling stations in Khairpur Tamewali.
SIALKOT: Heavy rain and windstorm spoiled the elections in Sialkot.
The rain started at 7:45am and continued intermittently for the whole day, inundating low-lying areas. Several polling stations remained under knee-deep water in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur.
The stalls set up by polling agents were uprooted by the windstorm. The turnout of voters remained low due to rain.
The polling started at least an hour late and the problems compounded at some places where official voter lists, ballot papers and other polling materials were not immediately available.
No traditional enthusiasm was witnessed, as the turnout of male voters remained three to five per cent and women even less till 12pm. Scores of candidates saw their chances of success evaporating in dark clouds, as they failed to bring voters to the polling stations.
The candidates backed by the PML and opposition parties criticized the government for holding the elections during rainy season.
Sialkot DCO Shafqat Ranjha told journalists that the polling was held peacefully in the district.
Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool, who paid a surprise visit to Daska, inspected the polling process at two main stations.
Interestingly, the ballot papers issued in Daska city’s almost all polling stations lacked complete information and symbols. The ROs, however, re-issued the papers. Shortage of ballot papers was also reported from various stations.
GUJRANWALA: The polling for 188 union councils in seven towns of Gujranwala was held according to the schedule.
A low turnout was witnessed in the early hours of the day, but voters started turning up later.
Reports reaching here from rural areas revealed that people expressed enthusiasm as the candidates facilitated them with transportation. Long queues were seen at some polling stations in rural areas. The turnout in posh areas, however, remained low.
As many 6,093 candidates were in the run for the slots of nazim, naib nazim, general and labour councillors, minority and women peasant seats in 188 union councils. Around 1,628 polling stations were established for the purpose.
Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool visited various polling stations in Gujranwala and reviewed law and order situation. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. DCO Khalid Masood Chaudhry, DIG Zafar Abbas Lak and other senior officers accompanied him.
The provincial election commissioner, however, was dissatisfied with the law and order situation.
SAHIWAL: Three candidates of the polling station in Chak 73/A-5-L, Union Council No 25, found no symbols on the ballot papers. Liaquat Gujjar, Muhammad Bakhsh and Zulfikqar, who were contesting polls for the seats of general councillors, found no election symbols on the ballot papers. They were, however, given the symbols of helicopter, motorcycle and pencil.
The polling could not be started in time at the polling station and the DRO ordered an inquiry.
The candidates in UC-88, Chichawatni city, at three polling stations were not provided election symbol on the ballot paper. The polling started two hours late when ballot papers were brought from other stations.
Meanwhile, Punjab Election Commission member Justice Naseem Sikandar visited three polling stations in Sahiwal.
SARGODHA: As many as 11 panels of nazim and naib nazim have already been elected unopposed.
Some 409 candidates were in the run for 149 union council seats, 2,092 for 636 general councillor (male) seats and 2,092 for 269 general councillor (female) seats, 674 for 316 peasant and labour councillor (male) seats, 1,113 for 243 labour/workers (women) seats and 116 candidates tried their luck for 58 minority seats.
The turnout was not more than 45 per cent, particularly in rural areas.
In four polling booths of the UC No 30, Bhalwal tehsil, women were allowed to cast their votes for the first time. The turnout, however, remained below 15 per cent.
In UC No 22, Bhalwal, a woman labour councillor faced inconvenience because her symbol was not included in the ballot papers. Subsequently, she was allotted the symbol of tree by the returning officer. A number of people, particularly from minorities, were equally disappointed when they found their names missing from the official list of voters. One Rehmat Masih made such a complaint to Governor Khalid Maqbool during his visit to the Hyderabad Town polling station.
Some people complained about interference of provincial ministers and federal parliamentary secretaries. The union councils in Shahpur tehsil witnessed a tense situation, as parliamentary secretaries Mian Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi and Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana supported their candidates.
Governor Khalid Maqbool visited several polling stations and told journalists that the interest the people of Sargodha and Khushab had shown in the election was an affirmation of the success of the system launched by President Pervez Musharraf.
He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the district administration and police.
RAHIM YAR KHAN: The number of registered voters in Rahim Yar Khan district is 1,465,772. Around 1,485 polling stations and 4,967 booths were set up for the election.
