Although Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) candidate for the National Assembly constituency in Azizabad has shown courage to break the fear in a month-long election campaign but he failed to convince the voters to come out of their houses and vote for PTI on Thursday.
A day-long visit of the constituency has revealed that the PTI had failed to set up a single polling camp in the constituency like MQM to facilitate its voters. Those, who want to vote for the PTI, were seen confused at the polling stations because of pressure of MQM workers outside the polling stations. The only polling camp of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was seen on the border of Azizabad at Lalu Khait No 10.
However, the PTI has claimed that it has established 55 polling camps, but, 80 percent of its polling camps were removed by the activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) along with collaboration of the city’s administration during wee hours of Thursday morning.
As per details, the election for NA-246, a stronghold of MQM, was held as per schedule on Monday. A heavy contingent of Karachi police and Pakistan Rangers were deployed inside or outside the polling stations to ensure security to the voters and the polling staff. Besides, a large number of cops were deployed in the District Central, to avoid any untoward situation during the election.
Despite all, Imran Ismail has failed to bring its voters out of their houses to cast their votes in the favour of PTI. The intensity of the fear could be gauged from the fact that PTI has failed to set-up a single camp in the constituency. There was no visibility of PTI supporters in the constituency. Some of PTI Karachi-circle office bearers were seen standing outside PTI main polling camp near Kareemabad Flyover.
When they were asked about the polling process, they had shown their satisfaction over the arrangements. A pick-up van carrying mineral water was standing outside central camp of PTI to supply water to its polling staff.
On the other hand, the MQM has set up a large number of polling camps in the constituency to facilitate its voters. The representatives of MQM briefed their voters before going into the polling booths.
At some of the polling stations, a large number of MQM supporters were seen celebrating expected win during the polling process. The volunteers of MQM provided pick and drop service to its voters and also provided their voters with refreshment.
“We have set-up 55 polling camps in the constituency to facilitate our voters,” PTI Karachi Senior Vice President Israr Abbasi claimed. “Over 80 percent of our polling camps were removed from NA-246 by the activists of MQM along with collaboration of Karachi administration,” Abbasi accused.
“However, our supporters were standing outside the polling camps and facilitated the voters, but, we could not attract maximum number of voters in absence of proper polling camps,” Abbasi maintained.