Baqar dispels impression election staff didn’t reach polling stations

Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Thursday went to the polling station established at the Government Boys Secondary School No. 2 in Block 6 of PECHS to cast his vote for the National Assembly’s NA-237 and the provincial assembly’s PS-104 constituencies in the general elections in Karachi.

After voting Baqar said he had exercised his democratic right. Talking to the media, he mentioned that security had been beefed up, and that polling stations were running smoothly. He pointed out that voter turnout would increase later in the day.

When asked about the interim provincial government’s role in facilitating the Election Commission of Pakistan, he said they had provided all the necessary facilities, including the transportation of the election staff to the polling stations. He dispelled the impression that the election staff had not reached their polling stations.

Regarding the suspension of mobile services, he clarified that it was the decision of the caretaker federal government. He said he believes they must have made the decision due to a valid reason.

He visited the command & control centre at the Civic Centre and observed polling through CCTV cameras. Interim home minister Brig. (retd) Haris Nawaz and Sindh police chief IGP Riffat Mukhtar briefed Baqar about the smooth functioning of the voting process. Later, the three of them observed the situation from the official helicopter.

‘Good sign’ Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori cast his ballot at the Neelum Colony polling station.

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Talking to the media after voting, he said that it was a good sign that polling had been continuing peacefully to allow people to cast their ballots in a peaceful environment.

Tessori expressed satisfaction over voting under way in the entire province. He mentioned that the international media had been monitoring the elections in the country. He said that every citizen should exercise their right to vote in the polls.

“I call upon the elderly people, women and youth to first think about choosing the appropriate candidates before casting their votes, because the nation’s next five years are dependent upon the results of these elections.”

Replying to a question, he informed the media that the interim federal government had suspended cellular phone services because of the recent acts of terrorism. He said that this step had been taken to prevent more such acts of sabotage during the polls. “Such an act was narrowly averted in Karachi the previous day.”

He informed the journalists that internet services were being restored in some parts of the country. He praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies to maintain peace in the country.

Responding to another query, he said that no political party or outfit would be allowed to disturb the peace situation in Karachi. He warned that anyone found violating the law would be taken to task without any leniency.

‘No pressure’

Sindh caretaker information minister Muhammad Ahmed Shah cast his vote at a polling station in Clifton. Talking to the media, he said that cellular phone services had been suspended following the terrorist incidents in Balochistan the previous day so that there is no recurrence of such incidents.

Shah said that the authority to shut down cellular phone services is the domain of the federal government. He said Karachi had remained protected from any major law and order incident.

He also said that cellular phone services would be restored once the law and order situation is normalised. He added that polling had been continuing peacefully in Karachi for the past few hours. He told the media that the interim government had done its best, and that voting should remain completely peaceful in the city. He pointed out that balloting had been continuing peacefully throughout the province. He stressed that polling officials had been performing their duties without any pressure.