The time to cast votes in the NA-133 Lahore by-election has come to end and the counting of votes has begun across the 254 polling stations in the constituency, considered a “stronghold” of the PML-N, where it looks to retain the seat.
The polling started at 8am this morning and continued till 5pm without any break after which the gates to the polling stations were closed off to any more voters.
According to Geo News, amid the chilly weather in Lahore, the voter turnout for the by-poll remained rather lacklustre.
Polling stations saw a vote or two cast in the morning hours which increased to a few more by the afternoon. When time for polling to end began to draw close, voter participation improved slightly.
Brief overview of the NA-133 constituency
The NA-133 seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik who died of heart complications on October 11.
According to the Punjab election commission, there are 254 polling stations in the constituency, including 22 polling stations of A category, 198 of B category and 34 polling stations of C category.
Of these, 199 polling stations have been declared sensitive. Around 200 separate polling stations have been set up for men and women and 54 mixed polling stations have also been set up.
The total number of voters in the NA-133 constituency is 440,485, of which 233,585 are male voters and 206,927 female voters.
Candidates vying for seat
There were 11 candidates contesting the polls, including the former seat holder’s widow, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, and PPP’s Aslam Gill.
The PPP actively campaigned for the NA-133 by-election in Lahore, which is considered a stronghold of the rival PML-N, in the hopes of reviving the party in Punjab.
The PML-N has retained the seat thrice in the past with Pervaiz Malik winning it in 2018 with 89,699 votes, Waheed Alam Khan in 2013 with over 100,000 votes and Naseer Bhutta in 2008 with a margin of over 32,000 votes.
After the Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the nomination papers of PTI candidate Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his covering candidate, his wife Mussarat Cheema, no PTI candidate is in the race.
PTI ‘will vote for no one’
PTI Central Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry, in a conversation with Geo News, said that since his party has no candidate in the field, “we will not vote for anyone”.
“Today’s election is a black spot in the name of the electoral process,” he said.
He claimed that less than 20% of the total votes will be cast today.
“We have appealed to party voters to stay at home and not exercise their right to vote today,” he said.
Later, in a statement on Twitter, Senator Faisal Javed Khan said if PTI had been in the race, “voters would have thronged to the polling stations”.
“Being out of the race on a technicality is unfortunate,” he remarked.
He said that the spirit and enthusiasm displayed by PTI workers is always commendable.
“With a lack of interest shown by people, the situation the PML-N and PPP are in is obvious,” the PTI senator said.
‘PPP only party that can alleviate people’s suffering’
PPP President Punjab Raja Pervez Ashraf, in a message to the people of the constituency on the occasion, said: “Allah has given NA-133 voters a chance to decide their own destiny”.
“PPP is the only party that can alleviate the sufferings of the people,” Ashraf said.
“Only PPP can end inflation, unemployment, lawlessness, uncertainty,” he added.
PML-N sets up monitoring cell in Model Town
As the day progressed, news emerged that PML-N has set up a monitoring cell in the party secretariat in Model Town.
“The polling and general situation in the constituency is being monitored moment by moment,” Uzma Bukhari said.
The monitoring cell will continue its work till the announcement of the election results, she said.
Election arrangements
Meanwhile, clear instructions were also given by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to all polling staff.
Ballot papers and other polling material were handed over to the presiding officers at the polling stations under the supervision of police and Rangers.
Presiding officers have been paid Rs6,000 each for a full day’s duty while assistant presiding officers and polling officers have been given Rs4,000 each.
The ECP directed each presiding officer to get snapshots of the original Form 45 along with forensic details showing time and location and hand it over to the returning officer. The commission has asked presiding officers to keep their location service on, take a picture of Form 45 and WhatsApp it to returning officers by taking polling agents on board.
In case of non-availability of internet, the presiding officer should personally hand over the original Form 45 to the returning officer.
The ECP has urged all presiding officers to save relevant details in their computer. Presiding officers will receive polling bags from the returning officer under the guard of police and Rangers.
The ECP also asked each candidate to ensure proper training of their polling agents. Candidates been told to ensure that no polling agent leaves a polling station without receiving Form 45. Each presiding officer is bound to provide a signed copy of Form 45 to relevant polling agents at the polling station.
Elaborate food preparations
Elaborate food preparations were made for lunch at some polling stations, with candidates serving food such as biryani, chana pulao (chickpea rice), chicken roast, zarda (sweet rice loaded with dry fruits), kheer (rice and milk-based sweet dish), and custard.
CEC Sultan Raja satisfied over arrangements
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja inspected the distribution of polling material and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.
CEC Raja said that all arrangements, including security, are complete. He urged voters of the constituency to exercise their right to vote.
The election commission said it has assigned security duties to law enforcement agencies, including police and Rangers.
Control rooms
The ECP said it has established a control room in the office of the returning officer, which would continue working throughout the polling process until results are compiled.
The ECP has also established separate control rooms at provincial and central levels to register and resolve complaints. The control room was to work from 7am in the morning till the compilation of results on polling day.
The provincial control room can be contacted through the following live contacts: Lahore: 042 99212209; 042 99212620; Fax: 042 99212209; Email: [email protected]
The central control room could be contacted on phone 051-9204402; Fax no 051-9204404 for registering complaints. The complaints could also be registered through Email:- [email protected]
A deputy commissioner and officers of police and Rangers will remain present to deal with any untoward incident.
The ECP also expressed hope that the voters would strictly follow the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
