ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The overall voters’ turnout in Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained low, compared to that in the previous general elections, a Dawn visit to various polling stations on Thursday showed.
In the capital, the overall turnout remained 15 to 20 per cent, whereas, in urban areas, it was 10 per cent. Very few people were seen casting votes in the rural areas, while the turnout at some polling stations was almost zero in the evening.
Most of the people in rural area told Dawn that there was no use casting votes as it would prove to be a futile exercise. “If President Musharraf remains the head of the state then there will be no outcome of the polls,” he added.
In urban areas, the situation remained comparatively better as both men and women cast their votes.
The highest turnout in the capital was witnessed at the polling stations located in G-6 area. A polling station established at Federal Government Higher Secondary School, G-6/2, witnessed over 50 per cent turnout, supporters of PPP and MMA, and the polling staff confirmed.
The PPP acting secretary-general, Raza Rabbani, when contacted at the party office for comments on voters’ turnout, said it was below 30 per cent. He said, though, generally, the elections remained peaceful in the capital, incidents of violence were reported from Sindh province.
Another office-bearer at the PPP central secretariat said the low turnout was owing to the fact that the people had become disheartened and disillusioned.
At the PML-Q election office, the office secretary, Brig Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry (retired), described the turnout ratio to be between 17 and 18. However, he said the real picture would become clear after midnight.
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf information secretary Akbar S. Babar said he had visited different polling stations in the twin cities and was of the opinion that the turnout was from 12 to 13 per cent.
He observed that the political parties might join hands in rejecting the election results, adding that the PML-N could be the first one to do so.
“The people have shown their disgust for the elections,” he said, adding that the next general elections were not very far off.
Some voters in the capital complained that their names had not been included in electoral rolls, despite the fact that they had been registered in a survey conducted to enrol people over 18 years of age.
At various places, citizens complained that the polling staff did not accept any other document except national identity card for casting votes. “They refused to accept Nadra’s slips, passports, domiciles and other documents, despite an earlier announcement that other documents confirming the identity of voters would be accepted.”
Some voters, both from rural and urban areas, were of the view that the time-limit for polling was very short and it should have been till 7pm instead of 5pm.
Traffic in the capital remained quite sparse throughout the day. Very few private transport vehicles were seen on roads, as hundreds of them had already been engaged by the local administration for polls’ duty.
The overall law and order situation remained peaceful, except for some verbal clashes at few places. In a similar clash between the supporters of MMA and PPP at G-10 area, the workers of former reportedly stopped people from casting votes for the latter.
An official of Islamabad Capital Territory authority told Dawn that counting of votes at all polling stations started at about 5pm.
The two national assembly constituencies in the capital were NA-48 and NA-49.
At NA-48, the contest remained close between Babar Awan of PPP and Mian Aslam of MMA, however, in urban areas, the latter was stated to be in better position. Mr Awan, on the other hand, has a good vote bank in rural area and kutcha abadis.
Similarly, a neck an neck contest between PPP candidate Nayyar Bukhari and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, an independent candidate, was expected in NA-49. The position of the PPP candidate in rural area of the constituency is stated to be good, while his opponent is better placed in urban areas.
OUR REPORTER FROM PINDI ADDS: The majority of polling stations in Rawalpindi witnessed a low turnout from 12 noon to 4pm. However, 20 to 25 per cent turnout was registered between 4 to 5pm, presiding officers of various polling stations said.
In the outskirts of the city, where mainly poor and illiterate people live, the turnout was a little better. However, in the city areas like, Raja Bazaar, Satellite Town, Asghar Mall and Cantt, where educated middle and upper class resides, the turnout was from 20 to 25 per cent.
The politicians were expecting a very active role from their young supporters, whose participation in the election process on the polling day was not very encouraging. Even those people who had been regularly casting votes in the past, were not willing to come to the polling stations.
When asked for comments, a majority of the people who had not cast votes, said they did so because, according to them, the elections would hardly be impartial and that the elected government could not challenge the policies of the military regime.
The youths were seen playing cricket and football in different playgrounds, and a majority of them was not willing to cast their votes. “It is good to play some game. People go to polling stations in those countries where democracy is respected and valued and where a change is expected. In Pakistan, we are not even sure whether the elected government will be valued and given a free-hand to run country’s affairs,” Mohammad Ajmal, a 19-year-old student, said.
According to polling agents and voters, the people were tired of political leaders and the frequently held elections after the ouster of democratic governments, therefore, they were not coming out to cast their votes.
The city, some people said, was facing countless problems and none of the contesting candidates had any concrete solution or package to alleviate their sufferings, hence it was useless to elect them.
The re-demarcation of the constituencies and numerous flaws in the voters’ lists were also responsible for the low turnout, Mohammad Shoab, a polling agent of PTI, said. He said about 120 to 150 people could not cast votes as their names were missing in the voters’ list.
Abida Hussain, a resident of Satellite Town, said her name was missing in the voters’ list, but that of her mother had been mentioned.
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