- FAFEN reports several violations of ESP code in Additional Polls NA-240.
- However, this also notes that the voting process has largely remained orderly.
- A person died during the voting; PSP leader car was fired upon.
ISLAMABAD: elections on the working day scared away the majority of voters from voting ballots in Supplemental NA-240 polls, which largely remained orderly but were overshadowed by two high-profile incidents of violence, according to the Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN).
MQM-P emerged victorious in by-elections NS-240 with close margin of 65 votes against TLP competitor. MMK-P candidate Mohammad Abubakar scored 10,683 votes while TLP candidate Shahzada Shahbaz finished up second when he dialed 10 618 votes.
The FAFEN statement refers to the presence of party camps in closeness of polling stations were one of the most persistent and noticeable violations of election Committee of Code of Pakistan (ECP) of lead for Political parties and competing candidates.
“Supporters of rival candidates had set up camps around 88% of observed polling stations,” FAFEN said. with its observers report the presence of armed persons by 22% of these camps.
Read more: Karachi police open several cases after violent NA-240 by-election marred
it added that although these camps usually set up candidates to help their constituents in checking their serial numbers on electoral rolls, they also main triggers of violence especially in hotly contested areas.
One such clash, according to the statement, took place between rival parties. in ON-240 outside polling station no. 52, which led to killing of one human.
Before noon incident of firing on in car of PSP Leader Anis Kaimkhani in Lundy’s area repeatedly covered by the media may have created a sensation of fear in constituency discourages potential voters from going out as well as voteFEFEN said.
Read more: PSP leader Anis Kaimkhani car fired upon during additional NA 240 interrogations
In addition to this, FAFEN stated that by-elections are being held on business day led to a turnout that remained the lowest ever of by-elections held after the 2018 General Election (GE)
Populated mainly by workers employed in surrounding industrial areas, the county recorded a terrible turnout of 8.38%, down from 37.38%. in GE-2018.
According to form-47 (Preliminary summary report of Results of Count), total 44 388 – 31 677 men and 12 711 women — of a total of 529,855 registered voters – 294,385 men and 235 470 women exercised their right to vote on June 16th.
As many as 440 ballots were excluded from the calculation, and the margin of victory between winner as well as runner-up there were only 64 votes.
Read more: ESP in issue notice to PSP chief Mustafa Kamal over violence in Additional Polls NA-240
FAFEN observers reported that the voting process remained largely compliant with prescribed procedure in Electoral Law 2017, Electoral Rules 2017 and ECP Study Guides.
However, they reported some procedural irregularities at the polling stations, such as installing up of party camps outside polling stations, absence or incorrect placement of secret screens in voting booths and passes out required voter verification steps – indicating need for big investment in training, as well as increased control of officials before their selection for electoral responsibilities.
By-elections were forced due to death of Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, who It was won this constituency on MQM-P ticket by securing 61,165 (34%) of questioned votes during GE-2018 while Muhammad Asif of TLP was runner-up packaging 30 535 (17%) of questioned votes.
Seven political parties, including MQM-P, TLP, GDA, Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League (PML), PSP and PPP, fielded their candidates. for this is the year of the by-election, while 18 candidates fought independently.
Watch: Presiding Officer Caught Stealing Ballots; taken into custody
The report, according to FAFEN, is based on observation of 247 voting booths in 67 polling stations spread across the constituency for total of 18 non-partisan, trained and properly accredited observers – eight men and 10 women. This includes observation of the process of counting votes in 13 polling stations.
