Daily Times

Karachi: Polling activities in the metropolis concluded in a peaceful manner amidst tight security on Wednesday.

Karachi’s local administration had tightened security arrangements after the Quetta suicide blast which claimed 31 lives. Security arrangements were geared up in 4,888 polling stations across the city. Security personnel became more vigilant and kept a close watch outside 2,247 polling stations which were categorised as ‘highly sensitive’.

Army, Rangers and police personnel remained alert at 240 polling stations in NA-247. “I am satisfied with the election arrangements. The security personnel are very cooperative and thanks to tight security, there is no fear of any untoward incidents this time,” Chohdary Nisar, a voter from NA-247, told Daily Times.

Similarly, security personnel also remained alert in Central district where security vehicles kept patrolling in areas to keep an eye on miscreant elements. Security was also tight in Korangi where armed forces, Rangers and other security personnel stood guard outside polling stations.

According to several residents of Korangi, a large number of women came out with their families to vote because they felt safer voting in the presence of army personnel and LEAs.

Earlier, while the voting process was to begin sharp at 8am and continue till 6pm in the metropolis, in many constituencies across Karachi, there was a delay in the commencement of polling activities because the staff arrived late. Daily Times observed that Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) officials were not present on time at their designated polling stations in Korangi district. In some polling stations, polling activities began with the delay of an hour. The voters were not provided with extra time to cast their votes.

In Korangi district, a large number of voters casted their votes early in the morning since the weather was unusually pleasant but as the weather changed and afternoon heat took over, the number of voters at polling stations across the metropolis decreased. However, as the heat subsided, a large number of residents came out to vote for their favorite candidates. Long queues were observed at several polling stations in the evening.

Meanwhile in South, West and Central districts, voter turnout remained very low in the morning. The polling process picked up in the afternoon when people started pouring into polling stations to cast their votes. NA-246 Karachi South 1 and NA-255 witnessed low turnout in the morning whereas a large number of voters were queued up outside NA 249 Karachi West 2. NA 255 Karachi Central 3 witnessed the most vibrant election process. A polling station in NA 255, Liaquatabad No-4 was almost jam-packed with voters.

A large number of men and women participated in the electoral process in the constituency NA-245. According to a cautious estimate, 55 percent average turnout had been witnessed in the constituency, showing roughly 10 to 12 percent increase over previous election’s voter turnout.

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.