Some interesting, however, odd stories have so far been reported during the voting process of the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Below is the collection of incidents reported in different areas of 16 districts that are electing their representatives to run city and town businesses.
We will start with an expatriate who came to Karachi from Australia “only to cast” his vote. This gentleman is living thousands of miles from Karachi but seems interested in the future of the city.
“I was born in Karachi. But, for the past 15 years, I am living in Australia. I only came here for the local government election,” said Ali Muhammad Mughal.
The man, who talked to Aaj News in Karachi’s UC-8 of Hussain Hazara Goth, wished for the election of a person who could revive Karachi’s lost glory when it was called the city of lights and had paved roads.
It is not clear who paid the bill. But, the policemen on duty at a polling station in Karachi were served breakfast after the timing of polling began.
“Breakfast has been served to the police personnel deputed at all polling stations in Malir. They were also served hot tea,” SSP Irfan Bahadur said.
The policemen must have found it difficult to leave early for election duty on a winter morning and without having breakfast.
For the past few days, the mercury is going down in Karachi and bringing chills to the citizens who are accustomed to the sweltering hot weather most part of the year.
A PPP candidate in UC-3 of Karachi’s Old Golimar got irked when he saw that the guitar was printed instead of an arrow on the ballot paper as his symbol.
He has complained to the Election Commission of Pakistan about the mistake.
Footage and pictures showed on Saturday that polling material was being delivered in rickshaws and public buses. The ECP ended the uncertainty over the date of elections ended after it rejected the Sindh government’s request to delay LG elections.
The relationship between time and punctuality is important. The importance of this phrase was highlighted by some voters, who arrived at a polling station in the Jamshed Road area, but no one was there. They had to return home after waiting for so long without casting their vote.
Security guards of a private company were providing security in Karachi’s central area due to a “shortage of police” personnel. They were deployed at the polling stations after arriving there in a police vehicle, footage showed.
The security guards told Aaj News that they were informed about the election duty in the wee hours of Sunday. When asked about who gave orders, they said that it was given by higher authorities of their company.
The ECP has ordered the provincial government to ensure foolproof security in elections.
