Mismanagement, space-constraints and short tempers marred the intra-party elections of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday, Pakistan Today has learnt.
In Lahore, problems started when the party had to shift from the spacious first floor of the Aiwan-e-Iqbal building to the basement. The polling continued for a good part of the day and a large turnout was witnessed. However, mismanagement and space constraints led to incidental scuffles among candidates who wanted to enter the polling area, where they were not allowed.
The voters, especially females, complained of long queues, insufficient space and improper management. “I was able to cast my vote after a long wait of five hours, but the entire activity is definitely very positive, as a lot of people from all union councils of the city have turned up to elect their leaders,” a female voter from Cantonment told Pakistan Today on the condition of anonymity.
However, the environment remained charged throughout the day as the three main contestants for the president had set up stalls outside Aiwan-i-Iqbal and were handing over their respective pamphlets to the voters.
After few scuffles, the management forced the candidates and their agents out after which each candidate started to shout that his opponent be shown the door first. Many supporters barged into the room too, damaging the doors.
Ten different booths were set up for different towns in Lahore where people from their respective constituencies came to cast votes. “Each candidate has to cast 48 votes for his or her particular town as well as for the district. Some women have taken 45 minutes to cast their vote discussing each candidate with a friend,” one of the managers said.
People supporting Mehmoodur Rashid were impressed with his ground work for the party, while many liked Farooq Amjad Mir due to his neutrality, while Aleem Khan’s supporters were also present.
Voting stopped late in the evening and the election results were not announced until the filing of this report.
In Gujranwala, supporters of Rana Naeemur Rehman’s group and Khalid Loond’s group clashed with each other verbally and physically due to which the polls were cancelled. Supporters also thrashed a cameraman who was covering the proceedings.
Activists accused the Sialkot election commissioner of being biased and after the main election hall was surrounded by the supporters of the Workers and Unity Group, police was called in.
In Sheikhupura, supporters of Ashraf Ghuman and Imran Kunwar beat each other after which the polls got cancelled.
Similarly, polls were also cancelled in Multan, where PTI workers traded sticks with each other. Supporters of one group also staged a sit-in outside the residence of Javed Hashmi. The protesters said that the names of a few candidates were missing from the ballot papers.
Polls in Mandi Bahauddin were also stopped for a few hours.
