MURREE: Though there was no traditional hustle and bustle outside polling stations in Murree, the turnout remained high amid largely conducive environment and tough contest between PML-N and PTI-backed candidates.

The suspension of mobile phone service affected the PML-N more than the PTI and other parties as its candidates had made good arrangement to transports voters from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Murree which was disrupted in the absence of the phone service.

During winter, a large number of residents temporary shift to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Various political parties, mainly the PML-N, had arranged vehicles for them to ensure they cast their votes.

Areas like Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta and Kalar Syedan fall in National Assembly (NA) constituency of NA-51 which also has two provincial assembly seats - PP 6 and PP 7.

Winners and runners-up of previous elections opted not to contest elections this year

This year, the winners and runners-up of the previous elections – PTI’s Sadaqat Abbasi and PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi - opted not to contest.

In their absence, NA-51 being contested mainly by PML-N’s RajaUsama Ishfaq Sarwar, PTI’s Latasub Satti (former MPA), PPP’s Mehreen Anwar Raja and Tehreek-i-Labbaik (TLP)’s Javed Akhtar Abbasi.

These parties along with Jamat-i-Islami also fielded their candidates for both the provincial assembly seats.

In this constituency, there has been a traditional rivalry between PML-N and PTI and it was expected that there would be a tense situation outside polling stations. However, in areas like Sehr Bagla, Aliot, Phagwari etc, the polling was held smoothly and activists of various political parties could be seen gossiping with each other.

During a visit to the polling station Dehla, an activist of PML-N, Shahzad Abbasi, said due to suspension of mobile phone service, a large number of their voters could not poll their votes. “We had arranged vehicles for our voters to transport them from Rawalpidi to Murree, but this morning we lost contacts with our voters and drivers of vehicles as well,” he said and added that later some voters at their own turned up but many of them could not reach the area.

On the other hand, the PTI too had arranged vehicles for voters but majority of the voters from Rawalpindi-Islamabad came on their own vehicles.

Meanwhile, PTI voters and supporters remained in a low profile and majority of them did not carry party flags on their vehicles. However, PML-N supporters carried party flags and the party’s symbol on their cars.

Meanwhile, it was also noticed that voters in Murree do not believe in clan-based politics as PML-N’s supporters of Usama Sarwar were eagerly backing the party’s candidate for PP-6 Bilal Yamin Satti, who belongs to Satti clan. Similarly, PTI’s supporters, Abbasis were voting for Latasub Satti.

Before the 2018 elections, the hill resort town had been considered a bastion of PML-N with clan-based voting pattern as the party’s candidates Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Ishfaq Sarwar (late) had won from the area on a number of times.

“In this polling station, we are witnessing high turnout. Regardless of clans, people are voting for their favourite candidates, I guess, this election is going to be a close contest between PML-N and PTI candidates,” said Kashif Hussain, a resident of Union Council Sehr Bagla.

However, in some polling stations, such as Bergran in UC Sehr Bagla, tension was reported amid allegations of snatching ballot boxes by rival groups.

This consistency has 7,19, 514 voters - 371,162 males and 348,352 females. A large number of women were also seen casting their votes.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2024