Complete lack of interest by voters

The main feature noticed on polling day in Lahore, as voters across the country voted between 8am and 5pm yesterday, was the near complete lack of interest by voters.

The fervour traditional to Lahore on voting day was missing this time round, except in small pockets where candidates had succeeded in mobilizing local residents.

While the larger number of polling stations set up this time round meant that the long queues of past elections were unlikely, there was a marked lack of public enthusiasm.

Turn out was unofficially estimated at between 25 and 30 per cent, lower than that in 1997 when nearly 35 per cent of Lahore's voters cast their ballots. This showed a continuing trend of falling turnout from one election to the next.

Estimates from across the country about 30 minutes before polling closed put overall turnout at about 25 per cent – the lowest in Pakistan's electoral history. The official turnout figure is awaited.

Voting in rural areas is said to have been brisker than in the cities. Across the country, there were also reports of minor skirmishes, most in Sindh, but no major incident.

The PML-N alleged that countrywide, the government had aided the PML-QA, PPP voters accused the PMl-QA of indulging in minor violence, the MQM whiel the MMA was seen countrywide as the most organized group in terms of bringing voters in to poll.

Many of Lahore's main roads, including those in the commercial heart of the city, were deserted. Areas such as Gowalmandi, dominated in the past by the Sharif family, in particular showed the consequence of the elimination of Nawaz and Shabaz Sharif from the contest, with few of the vehicles covered in flags or groups of supporters soliciting votes, seen anyway, in sharp contrast to the past.

"I am not interested in an election stage managed by the military," stated Akbar Bhatti, a trader, who said he "was waiting for my leaders, the Sharifs, to return."

Others however maintained that it was "good to see an election from which corrupt leaders have been eliminated."

Whereas PPP voters seemed visible in slightly larger numbers that in 1997, when party supporters had mainly stayed away from the polls, estimates at the close of voting, around 5pm, forecast around two city seats going to the party.

Aitezaz Ahsan, a PPP leader backed by the PML-N as well, was expected to win his NA-124 seat, while Samina Ghurki of the PPP, wife of party leader Khalid Ghurki, was said to be in a dominant position from her seat on Lahore's outskirts, which encompasses many rural areas as well.

Mian Azhar, whose PML-QA had actively mobilised voters and brought them in to vote, was said to be in a winning position in NA-118, where the contest between him and the PML-N's Hafiz Salman Butt was one of the most closely watched electoral tussles in eth city.

Elsewhere too, it seemed that the mobilisation of voters was playing a key role in the contest, with the superior organisation of pro-government groups such as the PML-QA and the 'crescent' group, which had greater control over vehicles and so on, taking the lead in this respect.

As during the past few elections, it appeared that the PML was dominating the city, with the disjointed state of PPP and PML-N activists, who had in many cases failed even to man camps set up to guide voters, acting to boost the PML-QA.

Indeed, the relative lack of ability of parties to motivate cadres and volunteers was visible everywhere, contributing to the "lack of colour" seen during the contest.

The exception, as always, was the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) which had well organised camps set up with activists guiding voters as to the procedure.

The PML-QA and the crescent group also seemed relatively better organised, while activists of the PPP and the PML-N, in several constituencies, both complained they had not been "provided with proper lists or directions on the new polling stations after the change in constituencies."

Indeed, while there were no major allegations of rigging or reports of any violence, there were complaints about the new polling scheme.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) candidate in Na-126, Liaquat Baloch, a veteran campaigner for the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said "there are big problems with the polling scheme. The names of many voters who have balloted in the past are missing from the list, voters from a single family have been split up between different polling stations and there is a lot of hassle caused by that."

He also complained that the Election Commission had not handed out new, computerised voting lists in time to parties, "so we have not been able to study the changes made and guide voters."

Baloch stated he was "not aware" if this was a deliberate move by the administration, but said "I do have my suspicion because the PML-QA is well prepared."

Baloch was however faring well against his closest rival, the PML-QA's Tariq Banday in NA-126, and also leading over the PPP's Fakhar Zaman according to reports from most polling booths in the area.

The complaints about incomplete lists, the split up of voters and inaccuracies in the new computerised rolls were widespread, with opposition party candidates in other Lahore constituencies, from Kasur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Multan, Sheikhupura and other areas making similar complaints according to initial reports.

It may be noted similar complaints had also come in during polls for civic bodies last year, with many voters unable to ballot because of these problems.

Indications from across the Punjab were that voting was largely peaceful, with a few minor scuffles between groups of rival voters reported in tense areas, such as Gujrat, where the Chaudhry family of ex-federal minister Shujaat Hussain is trying to ward off a challenge from the PPP and PML-N.

A scuffle between rival voters of the PPP and PML-QA was reported from NA-148 in Multan, where voting had to be suspended at one polling station for 20 minutes during the afternoon due to this.

There were also reports of minor skirmishes from Kasur, Sialkot and Sheikhupura – but these were not seen as "major incidents."

In Sialkot, a group of PPPP activists are alleged to have opened fire on PML-QA workers, leading to a brief suspension in voting on one provincial assembly seat. The brother of PML-QA candidate Tariq Subhani is said to have been seriously injured as a result.

In Lahore, the Election Commission took at least eight PML-QA supporters in to detention after they were arrested with false ballot papers. It is unclear how many ballot papers the supporters had, whether any candidates were involved or whether any had been used to cast votes.

Turnout across the Punjab was stated to be roughly similar to 1997, when a low turnout was seen.

There were however some indications of an improvement on this in the southern Punjab, where the PPP vote was cast in larger numbers this time, and in areas where candidates had been able to mobilise voters and provide them with transport.