Turnout remains poor in NA-48 by-election
By Kiyya Qadir Baloch
ISLAMABAD: The voters seemed least interested as low turnout was recorded in NA-48, which was thought to be one of the most important constituencies in the capital compared to May 11 general election.
Political parties failed to attract a large number of people in the by-elections. Major reason for this was their candidates’ limited reach in the rural areas of the constituency.
Candidates for both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could not woo a large number of voters in the by-elections for one of the most important constituency in the capital.
PTI’s Asad Umer and PML-N’s Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar’s limited reach in the rural areas of NA-48 resulted in the low voter turnout on Thursday.
PML-N and PTI had fielded two renowned political personalities in the general election of May 11,in NA-48. Javed Hashmi of PTI, who vacated this seat after winning in the May 11 general election, had secured good number of votes from rural as well as urban areas of the constituency. However, PML-N’s candidate in the general election, Anjum Aqeel had secured around 75,000 votes mainly from rural areas of NA-48.
Youth in the capital showed no interest in the polling process and polling stations were mostly deserted by late afternoon, but after 4pm people started visiting polling stations to cast their votes.
The majority of government employees could not cast their vote due to a working day in public sector organisations.
When asked about the reasons for the poor turnout, members of both parties, sitting at their election campaign cells said that this time leaders from both parties focused on press statements and no practical steps were taken for electioneering.
During a visit to various polling stations, including Islamabad Model College for Boys G9/4, FG College G9, Islamabad Model College for Girls G9, Islamabad Model College for Boys F7 and Islamabad Model College for Boys F8, booths were deserted and voters seemed least interested.
At Islamabad Model College for Boys G9/4, only a few voters were present.
Whereas, in some polling stations of rural areas, a good number of people turned up to cast their vote in last hours of polling.
Shahid Khan, a returning officer at G9, said that the low turnout was due to the lack of enthusiasm among people. He added that it was half-day and that was why the turnout was poor.
A government official, on condition of anonymity, said that the decision not to declare a full holiday in the capital on the election day was the main reason low turnout was recorded. Most of the polling staff was seen sitting idle and requested the media to convince people to come and cast their votes.
Interestingly, higher turnout of women voters was seen after 3:00pm.
A woman said that voting did not start until 1pm and added that because it was not a full holiday most people came after 3pm, as it was declared a half day by the government.
Polling concluded peaceful throughout the capital and no unpleasant incident was recorded, while the police and other law enforcement officials remained on high alert. Polling began at 8am and concluded peacefully on 5pm as scheduled.
ISLAMABAD: The voters seemed least interested as low turnout was recorded in NA-48, which was thought to be one of the most important constituencies in the capital compared to May 11 general election.
Political parties failed to attract a large number of people in the by-elections. Major reason for this was their candidates’ limited reach in the rural areas of the constituency.
Candidates for both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could not woo a large number of voters in the by-elections for one of the most important constituency in the capital.
PTI’s Asad Umer and PML-N’s Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar’s limited reach in the rural areas of NA-48 resulted in the low voter turnout on Thursday.
PML-N and PTI had fielded two renowned political personalities in the general election of May 11,in NA-48. Javed Hashmi of PTI, who vacated this seat after winning in the May 11 general election, had secured good number of votes from rural as well as urban areas of the constituency. However, PML-N’s candidate in the general election, Anjum Aqeel had secured around 75,000 votes mainly from rural areas of NA-48.
Youth in the capital showed no interest in the polling process and polling stations were mostly deserted by late afternoon, but after 4pm people started visiting polling stations to cast their votes.
The majority of government employees could not cast their vote due to a working day in public sector organisations.
When asked about the reasons for the poor turnout, members of both parties, sitting at their election campaign cells said that this time leaders from both parties focused on press statements and no practical steps were taken for electioneering.
During a visit to various polling stations, including Islamabad Model College for Boys G9/4, FG College G9, Islamabad Model College for Girls G9, Islamabad Model College for Boys F7 and Islamabad Model College for Boys F8, booths were deserted and voters seemed least interested.
At Islamabad Model College for Boys G9/4, only a few voters were present.
Whereas, in some polling stations of rural areas, a good number of people turned up to cast their vote in last hours of polling.
Shahid Khan, a returning officer at G9, said that the low turnout was due to the lack of enthusiasm among people. He added that it was half-day and that was why the turnout was poor.
A government official, on condition of anonymity, said that the decision not to declare a full holiday in the capital on the election day was the main reason low turnout was recorded. Most of the polling staff was seen sitting idle and requested the media to convince people to come and cast their votes.
Interestingly, higher turnout of women voters was seen after 3:00pm.
A woman said that voting did not start until 1pm and added that because it was not a full holiday most people came after 3pm, as it was declared a half day by the government.
Polling concluded peaceful throughout the capital and no unpleasant incident was recorded, while the police and other law enforcement officials remained on high alert. Polling began at 8am and concluded peacefully on 5pm as scheduled.
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