While welcoming the results of the general elections of February 18, the Peoples Resistance noted that the overall results came about despite massive pre-poll manipulation in the form of compromising the independence of judiciary and media, illegal transfers and postings, and an incomplete and flawed electoral role. PR also strongly condemned the widespread rigging itself that marked the February 18 polls in Karachi and called for action against those involved in the manipulation of votes cast that day.
Independent reports confirm overstuffing of ballot boxes, higher volume of votes despite low turnout, harassment at the polling stations, voting without ID card, absence of voters names on the electoral list and the overwhelming presence of a certain partys workers across a large number of polling stations in the city. According to one report, some polling stations registered 140% voters turnout despite a low turnout generally witnessed in the city.
Peoples Resistance has many individual testimonies complaining of harassment, rigging and being coerced to vote in a certain partys favour. Voters complained that their ballot papers were already stamped on the kite symbol, that they were not provided privacy at the polling booths that the presiding officers themselves asked voters to stamp the kite symbol. Many gave in to the presiding officers coercion, afraid to risk a confrontation, especially in the overwhelming presence of the partys activists at the polling booths. Voters also complained that they were handed over up to 50 ballot papers to stamp against their ID cards. “I was asked to stamp the kite symbol on all of them, said one voter.
A Karachi-based partys victory by huge margin also raises questions about the transparency of the polling process. There have been reports of the Party getting 65,000 votes from areas where it had earlier received not more than 4,000 votes. Not surprisingly, their opponents have challenged the results of a number of constituencies, including: NA-241, 249, 250 and 253, and PS-92, 110, 111, 112, 126 and 127.
Terming these irregularities as a mockery of an important constitutional exercise, the People’s Resistance said that the widespread rigging reported from Karachi puts into question the credibility of these results. We condemn blatant harassment of voters who were bullied into voting for a certain party while the administration provided no protection against such coercion.
PR also denounced the administrations inefficiency that added to the voters miseries. Voters complained of their names missing from the voters list even though they had registered their names earlier. They were made to run between different polling stations and misguided by presiding officers adding to their difficulties.
PR called for action against biased presiding officers who were witnessed stamping the ballot papers. “Presiding officers abused their power and authority. Instead of facilitating voters, they harassed voters and did the bidding for one political party, which is a violation of the ECs code of conduct, said a PR statement.
PR said that the hijacking of Feb 18 polls has shaken the publics trust in this important democratic exercise. Despite security threats, the public came out to cast their votes because they saw the Feb 18 polls as a hope for a democratic transition. Those who attempted rigging on polling day challenged publics constitutional right to make its choice. These elements must be brought to book. Disputed constituencies must have a re-election since elections in those constituencies violated all electoral rules and their non-transparent results cannot be accepted.