RAWALPINDI: In contrast to previous elections, post-poll hustle and bustle was conspicuously missing in the garrison city, as supporters of major political parties chose to stay at their houses after the polling time instead of remaining outside their respective election camps to support their candidates.

After the voting started at 8am, the residents of the garrison city thronged the polling stations to use their right to franchise. The streets around polling stations were packed with the supporters of almost every political party, and hoardings and party flags were visible everywhere, featuring catchy slogans and attractive messages to woo voters.

In a quintessential Pindi style, youngsters on motorcycles wearing party colours and carrying flags were taking rounds of the city, while some youths in cars were seen chanting slogans at full blast. Fortunately, loudspeakers were not installed at camps this year.

It may be mentioned that the candidates had set up camps outside polling stations to facilitate their voters. The candidates also distributed lunch among their supporters and arranged vehicles to provide pick and drip to their voters. Though shopping malls were closed, shopkeepers visited their bazaars and were seen sitting and making gossips and also exchanging views about elections. At some places, heated debates were witnessed.

Polling in Rawalpindi remained peaceful and crowds were seen outside female polling stations. Visiting different polling stations showed that voters in rural areas were taking great interest in the elections.

Talking to Dawn, voters said they would vote for the candidate who had ability to address their problems.

“We cannot disclose our decision, as it is not safe to do so. It is general election and political differences can turn into family feuds,” said Abdul Manan who was standing in a queue to cast vote at Gordon College.

Meanwhile, a considerable number of women voters were seen at a polling station in Union Council No 2, Ratta Amral, which falls in NA-56 constituency.

PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi, PTI-backed candidate Shehryar Riaz, PPP’s Sumaira Gul and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed were the candidates for the seat. A minor scuffle broke out between some voters and police personnel, but the overall situation remained peaceful. Some people were seen accusing the police and administration of purposely delaying the entry of voters into the polling stations.

The overall turnout, however, was satisfactory. An occasional outburst of slogans was heard from people in support of their candidates but overall the process went efficiently. PTI-backed independent candidate Shehryar Riaz’s position appeared to be strong as most people favoured him.

Most of the people had donned Shehryar’s stickers on their shirts. A man distributing the stickers was overwhelmed by children to get a hand on the PTI stickers. “There is no place for the lion in our union council,” said Yasir, who was waiting in a queue to cast his vote.

According to one voter, Malik Azaan Ali, who was supporting the PPP, the party had not fielded the right candidates.

He said Babar Jadoon should have been the party candidate from NA-56 as people knew him more than Sumaira Gul. The MC Girls High School, which was a combined polling station for both women and men, was full of voters with no untoward incident.

Shehryar Riaz’s supporters were seen helping people in finding their vote numbers. There were more volunteers of Shehryar than other parties.

However, the occasion was also an opportunity for former residents of the area to meet their old neighbours. Mohammad Usman, who no longer lives in the locality but still has his vote registered in Union Council 2, was excited to meet old acquaintances.

“I met some of my class fellows and neighbours after several years. Everyone is so occupied in one’s life. These are occasions where you bump into people with whom you have spent your childhood”.

Naveed Akhtar, who presently resides in Defence Road, had come all the way to Dhoke Ratta where his vote was registered to cast his vote.

“I am casting my vote for the first time in my life, and I stamped ‘Minar’ - the election symbol of Shehryar Riaz and Ijaz Khan Jazi, who is vying for PP-16 seat,” Mr Akhtar said.

Raja Mohammad Jameel was also a first time voter. He had become eligible only recently and was excited to cast his vote. He was seen canvassing for his preference as he waited in a line. “I will stamp on Minar. We should support PTI candidate and I ask everyone to do so,” he said. “People keep saying that they will vote for PML-N, but when they enter the polling booth, they end up voting for PTI,” Jameel said on a lighter note.

Replying to some women who were getting irritated as the queue moved at a snail’s pace, Kinza, a teacher by profession who was there to cast her vote, told them. “When we can wait to buy flour in long queues, can’t we wait to cast our vote? It’s our responsibility as a nation.”

Taxila

It was a festive day for the voters as they were treated like royal guests by candidates of political parties when they arrived in their polling camps.

Although the turnout in the morning was thin, especially in the urban areas and cantonments, in the afternoon much hustle and bustle was witnessed at the polling stations.

Despite assurance from PTA and the government, sudden suspension of mobile network spread panic among the voters, especially those having affiliation with a particular political party.

Long queues were seen outside polling stations at around 3pm. Besides men, teenage girls and women were seen lining up to cast their votes in Taxila and Wah. “I have delivered 2,000 packets of cooked rice at the main camp of a candidate in Taxila which were to be delivered to over 30 male and female polling stations in the area,” said Meer Asif, a local catering agent.

Saeed Siddiqui, a political observer, said public interest in the polling was a good indication of awareness among the masses. He said in his 60 years of age, he had not seen such public interest in the polling process, especially among youth.

Munanza Peerzada, president of a local NGO, termed women especially young girl’s participation a good indication for democracy. She said for the first time in history, young voters in rural and urban areas thronged to polling stations to cast their votes.

(Amjad Iqbal from Taxila also contributed to his story).

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2024