LAHORE - The voters of NA-122 and PP-147 have shown an extraordinary exuberance in support of their candidates to get the hot seat of the provincial capital, vital for their political lifeline.
Polling remained by and large smooth going because of the security command of the army soldiers with the assistance of Rangers and police.
The Nation election team yesterday observed neck-to-neck fight between the PML-N and PTI at various polling stations.
The ruling party specially focused its weak areas in Samanabad, Ichra, Shadman, Rehmanpura, Baja Lines, Mian Mir Colony, parts of Dharampura and Upper Mall. The PML-N managers in the two constituencies kept on transporting their voters to the polling stations in the weak vicinities from the first half of the polling starting from 8:00 am.
Most of the PTI voters showed up at the polling stations on their while only a small numbers of their voters were transported through the means arranged by the election managers.
The major chunk of PTI vote came from the women, while young and new voters also voted for the party of Imran Khan. The ruling party received good support from all age groups and new voters of the constituency. Disabled and old people also cast their votes.
Overall pace of the polling remained slow in the first half from 8:00am to 1:00pm and gained momentum afterwards. However the same was remained in top gear in Samanabad, Ichra, Shadman, Rehmanpura, Baja Lines, Mian Mir Colony, parts of Dharampura and Upper Mall with the PML-N supporters who wanted to cover the gap in these areas.
At the same time the number of PTI women voters remained high in the polling stations of these areas in the first half of the polling.
Workers of both the parties kept on guiding their voters in detail at the camps set up outside the polling stations. The PTI had set up more election camps in Ichra, Samanabad, Shadman Dharampura and Rehmanpura than its rival the PML-N.
Minor scuffles took place between the workers of PTI and PML-N at some polling stations of Samanabad, Garhi Shahu and Ichra but no serious incident occurred because of the strict security. Control rooms were established at the Punjab Election Commission and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to monitor the polling process through CCTVs installed at the polling stations and linked with the control rooms.
Ghari Shahu, Allama Iqbal Road, which housed the main election offices of the PML-N and the PTI, presented the epicentre of the enthusiasm and zeal of the youth of both the parties. Throughout the day, they kept the atmosphere charged up through slogans, dances and songs while roaming around the constituency in small groups of motorcycles, cars and on foot. Minutes after the bits of unofficial results started to pour in, the PML-N workers anticipating victory of Ayaz Sadiq took out a rally at Ghari Shahu.
Prior to that, the same venue remained hot spot of the confrontation between both the party workers. At some places, workers on both sides came very close to clash but the army and rangers personnel controlled the situation. However, excitements ran high throughout.
Polling started exactly at 8pm at most of the 284 polling station s of NA-122 and PP-147 when the voters were already queued up. Every voter was allowed entry after thorough body search and no mobile phones and party placards/stickers etc were allowed to be carried inside.
It was totally peaceful and disciplined polling under the army vigilance. Strict security was maintained at the prescribed distance while barbed wire was laid down and tents fixed as certain place to close roads caused big inconvenience to the commuters and residents of the area. Rangers troops stood by outside Loco-workshop to meet any contingency.
Some of the polling stations which witnessed fast pace voting with women include, Pak German Technical Institute and City District School, Mughalpura; Power House, Bajalane; Queen Mary College, Durand Road; Arif High School, Tanveer High School Infantry Road; Government Girls High School, Allama Iqbal Road; Office of the Superintending Engineer Dharampura; Zaman Park; Ichra High School; City District Government Dispensary Ichra Kachiabadi; Lesco Office Samanabad; City District Government Junior Model Middle School, Samanabad; Government Centre Model School, Samanabad; Allied School, Shadman; Lawrence Road Examination Centre; Government Darul Niswan High School, Jail Road; Junior Model School Corporation, Shadman; MC Primary School, Shahjamal; Government NA Primary School, Rehmanpura; Government Pakistan Model High School, Rehmanpura; and City District Government Girls High School, Rehmanpura.
Some voters complained about their votes missing in the list after they had cast vote in the last election. Some new voters were also seen puzzled about location of the polling station, as their votes shifted to other polling stations in the same constituency by the election authorities without informing them.
At Railways Kachiabadi, a few voters told The Nation that they were obliged to vote the PML-N or else their katchiabadi would be demolished and the ad hoc employees would lose job “as warned by the Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique”.
At PPP camp set up at Allama Iqbal Road, PP candidate of the party Iftikhar Shahid along with central leader of the party Sardar Khurram Khosa were present among others. Khosa grieved Shahid was unlawfully kept out for polling station and also not allowed to see his presiding officer.
He said he had brought this fact into notice to the Election Commission but no reply has so far come through.