The polling process in Karachi’s NA-236 constituency faced delays, leading to frustration among voters and allegations from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of deliberate hindrances by authorities.
Polling at the Askari 4 polling station of PS-100 and NA-236, where PTI’s Alamgir Khan is contesting, commenced only around 3pm, just two hours before the 5pm deadline, leaving many voters waiting since morning without the presence of polling staff.
With approximately 5,000 registered voters at Askari 4, the delayed start caused inconvenience and disenchantment among the electorate. Reports of delays were initially dismissed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sindh, asserting that the polling process at another polling station on Abul Hasan Isfahani Road was progressing smoothly.
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However, complaints arose from various polling stations. In one instance, a polling station was not established at Shaheen School, leading to difficulties for voters. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Muzammil Qureshi demanded ECP intervention in addressing the issues in his constituency.
Similar grievances emerged from Hashmat Memorial School, where the voters’ list was reportedly unavailable, causing frustration among voters. Despite complaints, a presiding officer maintained that only voters with codes could cast their ballots, further exacerbating the situation.
Additionally, complaints surfaced about the absence of presiding officers at certain polling stations, such as Al-Noor Public School in NA-236.
In NA-236, candidates from various parties, including MQM-Pakistan, PPP, and Jamat-e-Islami, are competing for the seat. Karachi, with 5,336 polling stations spread across seven districts, witnessed heightened security measures, with over half designated as highly sensitive or sensitive by the ECP.
A total of 575 candidates contested for the 22 National Assembly seats, and 1,406 vied for the 47 Provincial Assembly seats. The ECP established dispatch centers to distribute electoral materials, with police ensuring their safe transportation to polling stations.
