KARACHI:
The residents of Karachi today (Thursday) stepped out of their homes to cast their votes, starting 8am morning, reported local media sources.
The election commission staff had been deployed at the 213 polling stations since Wednesday. Presiding officers of each polling station received the material (ballot boxes, papers, bags) from the District Central deputy Commissioner’s office.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Kanwar Naveed Jamil, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Imran Ismail, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Rashid Nasim and Usman Moazzam are contesting for the coveted NA-246 seat, according to sources.
213 polling stations were set up with 769 polling booths housed in 55 buildings, for 357,861 registered voters, reported local media outlets.
The polling process was expected to last until 5 pm.
Although 14 candidates are in the run, but the by-poll is largely expected to be a three-way contest between Kanwar Naveed Jameel of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Imran Ismail of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Rashid Naseem of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), according to local media sources.
Amongst other complaints, Jamaat e Islami leader Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman complained that the NA-246 election had been ‘engineered’, and that a letter had been written to Chief Election Commissioner (Retd.) Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, regarding the complaints on rigging.
Addressing the press and his party workers over the phone, MQM chief Altaf Hussain says if people are allowed to cast their votes smoothly without pressure and duress, his party will win the elections, stated a local media report.
He says that the party’s request that voting time be extended was denied, and that although there are only two and a half hours left to vote, the party and its workers are very determined.
Altaf Hussain congratulated his party workers on their determination, and praised the women as well.
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan claimed that by-election would not have been possible without the inclusion of Rangers, considering the ‘sense of fear’ that has been created according to him.
Imran further said,”I think MQM is already making excuses because they know they will not manage 140,000 votes this time.”
Imran added that he is optimistic about the results of the by-elections, according to sources.
Holding a press conference, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar demands of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend the time of voting by 3 hours, according to local media sources.
“The Voting process is being deliberately delayed to keep away people from casting their votes,” he claimed, according to local media sources.
PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi appealed to residents to come out to vote without any fear, and added that Rangers’ cooperation had made things easier.
“I predict we MQM will manage to get 50 to 60 (thousand) and we will get 70 to 80,” he said, according to local media sources.
MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jameel says MQM has accepted all the measures, including deployment of Rangers and the installation of CCTV cameras with an open mind but adds that it was unfair of the administration to impose a ban on pillion riding, according to local media sources.
PTI’s candidate in the NA-246 election Imran Ismail said he hopes for a good turnout and victory for his party.