JI terms election arrangements 'poor'

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Thursday termed the arrangements made for the by-election on NA-246 by the Election Commission of Pakistan as 'poor' and blamed the commission for appointing MQM workers as polling staff. At least three letters the JI dispatched during the polling day to complain 'irregularities' in NA-246 by-poll and alleged the MQM for 'pressuring' the election officials to allow women voters to cast votes without checking their original identity cards.
The JI contestant, Rashid Naseem also told newsmen at a polling that election commission had failed to conduct by-election without troubles. "The ECP's irregularities are visible," he said, adding that the commission's arrangements were unsatisfactory. He also lashed out at MQM, saying that "the MQM's iceberg has started melting". He lauded Pakistan Rangers for stiff security arrangements at the polling stations and maintaining law and order. "Security is satisfactory," Rashid said at the mid-day polling.
"Officials of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Customs and Pakistan Steel have been appointed to conduct the polling as they are the oath-bound workers of MQM," Chief of JI Karachi Chapter Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman alleged. He said the JI rallies had been attacked during the polling campaign and voters were forced to move away from the constituency on the by-election day to scale down his party's votes. "Pakistan Rangers steps to improve security are appreciable," he told newsmen outside a polling station.
The JI maintained that the irregularities it had pointed out ahead of by-poll were not addressed. In polling booth no. 99, the ballot box seal was already broken but election officials ignored the JI complaint to repair it. At polling no. 11, 12, 13 and 14 falling in KDA block 14 voting started late by 10:45 am instead of 8 am. At polling stations no. 14, 145, 146, 148 in FB Area -9 voting began at 10:30 am. At the polling station no. 116 and 117 set up at Altaf Hussain Haali School, the election officials were deliberately using delaying tactics, the letter said.
At Girls College in Liaquatabad, polling stations no. 194, 195, 196 and 197, the MQM's workers entered with election commission cards and pressured the returning officers. At polling stations no. 112, 113, 114, 119, 120, 122, 124 and 125, women voters were being forced to show off their stamped ballot-papers, which is against the law, according to them.
At Aga Khan School, block 3 FB Area, PS89-90 had been shifted to Aga Khan School block 2 which does not exist, causing troubles to voters. The election commission officials had not reached at KDA School, polling stations no. 11, 12, 13 and 14, they pointed out a number of such issues which voters and political parties faced at other polling stations of NA-246 as well.