LAHORE: A large number of voters thronged the polling stations in NA-121 and NA-120 (Lahore-V and IV respectively) in early hours on Thursday to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Since no untoward incident was reported anywhere in these constituencies, the polling process was largely reported calm except some minor complaints such as slow voting due to voters verification, rush and other issues.

“We are standing here for the last one hour. But we are yet to cast our vote,” complained a woman while talking to Dawn at polling station No. 23 in NA-121 and PP-154.

On inquiring, presiding officer Ms Amna rejected the complaints stating all is going on smoothly. “It is now 3pm and over 350 votes of the total 1,000 or so have been cast. In fact, the people in droves have started coming here after 1pm - perhaps they took breakfast late,” she said, adding the entire polling staff is working efficiently.

NA-121 is the constituency, where Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Iftikhar Shahid, Wasim Qadir and Amer Siddiqui from PML-N, PPP, PTI/Independent and Jamaat-i-Islami were contesting elections. “The turnout is very encouraging till now (3:15pm), as over 500 of the total 1,608 votes have been polled,” Rashid Ali, assistant presiding officer at the polling station No. 25 (NA-121, PP-149, male polling station) told Dawn. “Not a minor issue has been reported to us since morning, as everything is in progress smoothly,” he added.

A large number of young voters were seen in long queues at various polling stations. “We will vote for the candidate of our choice. But I cannot tell to whom I will vote,” said a citizen standing at the polling station.

In NA-120 (Lahore-IV), the situation also remained encouraging, as over 50 per cent of the total votes were polled at various polling stations. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Mian Munir, Hammad Awan and Mian Abdul Rashid from PML-N, PPP, PTI/Independent and JI were contesting elections, respectively, in NA-120.

“It is 5pm now and the total votes cast are over 1,050 out of the total 2,248,” said Syed Muhammad Nauman, presiding officer at polling station No R-150 (Kot Dooni, near Batapur), while talking to this reporter. “Now we are about to start counting, as the polling process ended peacefully,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2024