ISLAMABAD, April 30: Pro-Musharraf parties and businessmen had made elaborate arrangements on Tuesday for multiple voting in presidential referendum to show their performance.

This reporter witnessed around 80 women voters casting multiple votes at different polling stations before they were served with Biryani and finally dropped at their residences.

They were gathered from their houses by women supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam group) activists in various localities near Naz Cinema, Murree Road and then taken to Mission School in Raja Bazaar where they cast their votes.

The women were then taken to Commercial Market polling station where they once again cast their votes. They were then served with juice and Biryani near referendum office of PML-QA secretary-general Raja Arshad Hafiz.

Since there was no condition of voting list and polling agents to challenge identities, the pro-government parties utilized the situation in the favour of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

These women were carried in a procession of around eight private vehicles, including six Suzuki pick-ups and two Toyota Hiace, carrying banners of Bahria Town and PML-QA. The vehicles, included RPT-475, RPT-4890, IDT-4238, IDT-4588, NWFP K-2216, RIR-7699, RIR-1677, IDT-4215 and RIR-5897.

A driver said these vehicles were impounded by the administration for providing pick-and-drop service to the voters, and their owners were not paid anything except Rs200 each for fuel.

The administration had promised to pay Rs1,200 per day, but the drivers were not sure they would ever get their payments.

Another driver said they were asked to carry banners of private organizations and political parties.