FAISALABAD, April 29: Mismanagement and inadequate arrangements led to altercations between the polling staff and the election commission officials during the handing over of ballot papers and other material here on Monday.

Scuffles occurred when the staff of the returning officers misbehaved with polling staff. Government employees, specially education and health department staff, were directed to reach the district government secretariat early on Monday morning to collect the material.

They were seen sitting in the scorching heat till noon due to poor arrangements made by the agencies concerned.

The government employees, especially women, were asked to queue up to collect ballot boxes, ballot papers, and other material. Relatives of the government employees were also seen “helping” them to receive their duty letters and election material.

It was observed that despite impounding of vehicles by the administration and police, women polling staff and others have been asked to make arrangements to reach the polling stations with election material.

Some of the women were seen carrying ballot boxes and big bundles of material on their shoulders because no assistance was provided to them. Old employees of various government departments were also doing the same job using “objectionable” words for the administration for their careless attitude.

All the roads leading to district courts were blocked by the drivers of impounded vehicles causing traffic jams.