The overall turnout during re-polling at 43 polling stations in NA-250 constituency on Sunday remained very low in the wake of the murder of Sindh Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Zahra Shahid Hussain.
The other reason behind low turnout was the boycott of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM).
Security remained heightened but a limited number of people dared to come out of their houses due to panic which gripped the area after the murder of PTI leader.
The ECP delivered election material on Saturday night. The presiding officers received ballot papers, ballot boxes, stamps, screen and other stationery from the city court a day before re-polling at 43 polling stations.
The ballot boxes and screens were transported to the polling stations under the supervision of Rangers, police and local administration. Two members of the court were deputed with each presiding officer carrying the material to the polling stations under the supervision of law-enforcement agencies.
The polling stations which were flooded with voters on May 11 were found deserted on May 19. On Election Day, there were long queues, but on Sunday polling stations wore a deserted look and voters came in small numbers to cast their votes.
Turnout at Aysha Bawani School, where four polling stations were setup, remained very low. The polling stations were setup for Lines Area, Bazirta Lines and other areas of South Zone but the people showed apathy in coming out of their houses. The guidelines which were issued by the ECP for May 11 were followed on Sunday. No one was allowed to enter the polling station without CNIC and cell phones were also not allowed.
At least 5,000 security personnel, including 600 army officials, were deployed at 43 polling stations. According to security plan, 22 cops, eight to 10 Rangers personnel and six to eight army officials were deployed at every polling station.
Army officials were also deployed inside every polling station to monitor the election process. The army personnel were also deployed at every entry and exit points of DHA.
