Day: February 9, 2024

TOBA TEK SINGH: Women in Devidaspura area were not allowed to cast votes by their elders.

When the media men visited the women polling station set up in Government Girls Primary School at Chak 295-JB, the female polling staff and security personnel were present and no voter came to cast vote. The area falls in NA-106 and PP-122.

A PML-N activist, Rana Amer, said since Pakistan came into being, the women of this village had never been allowed to cast their votes in any general or local government election. This prohibition was a permanent decision enforced by their elders.

Shahbaz, a young PTI activist, said officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and several NGOs had organised multiple meetings with the women of this village after the 2015 local council polls and the 2018 general election. These gatherings were attended by hundreds of women.

He said women had agreed to participate in the 2024 election and visit the polling stations to cast their votes. However, they ultimately adhered to the decision of their male elders, a consensus shared by activists from all parties, despite their political differences.

It merits mentioning that previously, the ECP had set up a joint polling station at the village’s government boys elementary school. However, in 2018 and 2024, a separate polling station was established for women at the government girls primary school. Despite this, the polling station remained deserted throughout the day.

Several villagers said many girls, who had reached voting age, whether still studying in colleges and universities or having completed their education, were eager to cast their votes for the first time in their lives, but they were disallowed by their conservative elders, a tradition upheld in all previous general or local elections.

Source: Dawn

PESHAWAR: Youth and women turned up in droves at polling stations in the provincial capital to exercise their right to vote on Thursday.

Visits to polling stations in different parts of provincial capital showed that a large number of women and youth were actively taking part in the electoral process.

During a visit to Salwan middle school in Peshawar Cantonment, it was observed that women were present inside the polling station in a large number to cast their vote. Though the polling process was a bit slow, female voters were eagerly waiting in the polling station’s courtyard to cast their votes.

One of the polling staffers told Dawn that majority of women were saying that they were there to free Imran Khan from incarceration.

Enthusiastic youth turn up at polling stations in droves

The polling station had about 2,500 registered voters and by 3pm about 600 had polled their votes, others were waiting outside. At the same time, more women voters were entering the polling station in droves.

Similarly, a large number of women were waiting inside a polling station set up at a girl’s school near Gulberg. There were long queues outside the polling booth. Besides, there was huge presence of women outside another booth in the same polling station.

Hayatabad Sports Complex also witnessed a large number of women turning up to cast their votes. At this polling station, workers of a particular political party were waiting at the gate to receive voters and lead them to booth and canvass them to cast their votes for their candidates.

Polling stations in Gulbahar area of the city also saw a large number of women turning up to exercise their right of franchise.

Similarly, polling stations and camps of political parties witnessed influx of youth, eagerly taking part in the general elections. Youth wearing caps of their political parties’ flags were seen offering rides to elderly people to polling stations to enable them to cast their votes.

Majority of the polling agents at the polling stations were also youth. Visits to several polling stations in the limits of Peshawar Cantonment showed that a large number of youth was actively taking part in the electoral process.

Polling stations established in Mubeen Shaheed School No.1, Peshawar Cantonment, and Cantonment No.3 schools also saw a large number of youth. Young workers also crowded the camps of their political parties established outside polling stations.

A polling agent of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf at No.3 school polling station told Dawn that they were competing in the constituency with Awami National Party. However, he said that they were going to win the polls due to the huge number of youth, who were coming out to votes.

Similarly, youth outside Sufeh Dheri polling station on the outskirts of the city were canvassing voters to vote for PTI. They were asking the electorate to vote for Sehat Card. However, workers of other parties were trying to counter them over sentence awarded to PTI founder in Toshakhana case.

Source: Dawn

ISLAMABAD: In NA-48 and NA-53 constituencies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a large number of women thronged the polling stations to poll their votes, hoping to change the fate of the country but simultaneously apprehensive about the transparency of elections.

According to several veteran voters, the turnout in their constituencies was higher compared to previous elections, with an elderly voter terming the response of the youth and the senior citizens ‘commendable’ for their active participation in the polls.

It may be noted that in 2018 polls, the women’s turnout was 47 per cent compared to 56pc of their male counterparts.

There were some administrative problems, however. For instance, reportedly there were no arrangements by the Election Commission of Pakistan to facilitate elderly citizens and some voters had faced problems reaching their designated polling stations, besides sluggish polling pace.

NA-48, NA-53 witness relatively ‘high turnout’ compared to previous polls

At a polling station in Rawalpindi’s NA-53, a 40-year-old woman told Dawn that she had voted for the most suitable person in her constituency, regardless of the political party.

She said that some people in her family had been voting for a specific party but she had decided to change their opinion this time. She added that voter turnout was higher than the past two elections in which she had also cast her votes.

She claimed her family members had been allotted different polling stations even though their permanent address on the national identity cards was the same.

Due to the ‘capricious’ allocation of polling stations, they faced problems in finding the location. She said that if her polling station was far away from her house, she would not have voted then.

A first-time voter Quratulain Tahir at the same polling station was excited about being able to vote. “I am extremely happy to see that even women in wheelchairs are here today. I think it is important to remain hopeful and have faith. I was not expecting to see such a turnout…”

Ms Tahir said she picked the “most appropriate” candidate. She also pointed out that the arrangements were not suitable for senior citizens.

A 63-year-old voter, Fatima Irshad, said that she was there to vote because it was the “basic duty of every citizen to go out and vote”. She said, “…if every individual comes out to vote today, then it can change the fate of this country. I voted for a candidate who has sacrificed a lot for this country, and if the elections are fair, he will win and change things in the country.”

NA-48 in Islamabad

In NA-48, at a polling station set up in the Army Public School, a 58-year-old woman said she had lost hope in all political parties. She claimed, “All of them are corrupt, but I am here for my country, and my country comes above anything; If our faith is strong, we will defend our country.”

She also shared discrepancies in the allocation of polling stations. “My daughter went to her native village alone to cast her vote…even though our permanent addresses are the same. I am just hoping for the best outcome from these elections,” she added.

At this polling station, a 20-year-old voter with her mother was also present to cast her ballot. They found the process a bit slow, but the “sense of the community” prevalent at the site made up for the sluggish pace of voting. They said they did not feel complications in choosing their candidate since there was only one “right candidate”. The girl said, “My entire family is voting for the same candidate. I believe it is a bit of a formality because decisions have already been made, but I still did my part.”

At a different polling station in NA-48, a 62-year-old voter said, “I think this time the voter turnout is higher; especially in my experience, the response is enthusiastic, and participation from senior citizens and young people is commendable.”

Another woman commented, “I am 40, and what made me come out today is that if everyone loses hope, how will we bring change? I have a little daughter with me and have been here for the past few hours. I believe you should play your part so you don’t regret not participating in choosing your leader. I chose the candidate I did because I believe he is the only person who can bring about change…”

According to the voter, he husband’s polling station was “quite far from my station; however, we stand firmly in the face of these problems, and nothing can stop us from bringing about change”.

A 66-year-old woman stated, “I am here for my nation, for the next generation, and for justice. The awareness that a particular leader has given us to vote for is the reason why I have been voting since 2013.”

Source: Dawn

LAHORE:On the bustling polling day at NA-130 (Lahore-XIV) a remarkable turnout of women voters added a vibrant touch to the electoral process during the General Elections 2024 held here on Thursday.

Similarly, polling was held for two provincial assembly constituencies PP-173 and PP-174 in this area with roads full of election camps which added to election festivities and traditional fervor.

Almost all major political parties had fielded their candidates from this national assembly constituency NA-130, previously known as NA-125, which over the years is considered the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) stronghold.

This time PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PTI leader Yasmeen Rashid as independent candidate, PPP’s Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Jamat-e-Islami’s Sufi Khalique Ahmad Butt were some of the prominent contestants besides other independents and candidates from TLP and JUI etc.

The atmosphere remained lively and spirited throughout the day, characterized by a continuous flow of voters exercising their democratic right. A significant turnout of women voters was observed at different polling stations especially the ones set up in Sant Nagar area.

As per the record of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), there are 608,318 registered voters in NA-130, from where PML-N’s Waheed Alam (NA-125) had emerged victorious in 2018 general elections.

Of these registered voters as many as 323,100 are male voters while the remaining 285,218 are female voters.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had set up 376 polling stations across this national assembly constituency with 148 polling stations for the female voters alone. Besides 161 polling stations for male voters there were some 67 combined polling stations.

Talking to The News a PML-N supporter, Babar, said he voted for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif since the PML-N had done remarkable development works in this constituency over the years.

“One of PML-N’s mega projects is the establishment of a Sports Complex which was recently inaugurated by the Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi,” Babar said and added everyone knew the project was initiated by the PML-N.

A PTI worker Irfan said he voted Dr Yasmin Rashid on the NA seat and Zubair Khan Niazi on the provincial assembly seat who both contested elections as independent candidates. “But every PTI supporter knew who our candidate was,” he added.

The day commenced with the opening of polling stations at 8 am, sparking a wave of excitement that reverberated throughout the constituency on Thursday. Against this backdrop, various political parties had set up election camps to assist voters with crucial information, such as their designated polling stations. Notably, workers from the PTI demonstrated a tech-savvy approach by utilizing mobile applications to access voter data efficiently.

However, amidst the festivities, some PTI workers were observed engaging in inappropriate sloganeering directed at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, reflecting the charged nature of the electoral environment.

Despite these moments, the day was marked by a strong display of civic engagement and democratic participation, underscoring the significance of the electoral process in shaping the future of the nation.

Across the provincial capital, polling process continued peacefully from 8:00 am to 05:00 pm without any interval. Voters, who had entered their respective polling station till 5:00pm and were yet to exercise their right to vote, would only be allowed to cast their vote.

The total number of voters in Lahore is 12,164, 417 out which 3,636,253 are male and 3,221,841 females. The Election Commission of Pakistan had established a total of 4,357 polling stations in all the 14 National Assembly constituencies (NA-117 to NA-130) and respective constituencies of Provincial Assembly of Punjab (PP-245 to PP-274).

In the constituency NA129, PMLN and TLP supporters in their camps seemed very charged. They were attracting the people and persuaded the voters outside of the polling stations. While the camps of PTI, JI, and PPP seemed untouched by the people.

The voters were worried because their phones were not working over there. Zeal could be observed at the central offices of PMLN and TLP as well. The voters were in queue to cast votes in favour of their candidates on the occasion.

Source: The News

Women voters at a village of NA-20 in KP and in NA-59 in Punjab, were found absent at polling stations in conservative Swabi and Talagang district of Potohar region on Thursday.

The locals have prohibited women to exercise their right to vote in Adeena village of Swabi district.
According to reports, the election staff has been present at the polling station, while women voters were not sighted.

It is said that around 6,000 women in Adeena village have not been allowed to use their right to vote in the election.

According to reports, not a single voter from 3,101 women voters cast vote at four polling stations of the Talagang district.

Source: Pakistan Observer