Poor arrangements at polling stations witnessed

LAHORE : The Presiding Officers (POs) witnessed the worst polling arrangements in the different polling stations of the provincial metropolis when they reached to their assigned polling stations on Wednesday night.

It seems that the Election Commission didn’t inspect these schools and buildings before reserving these infrastructures for the general election 2024. In a number of areas, the buildings of private schools, which are reserved for the electioneering process, are in the pathetic conditions.

One of the POs, deputed in the constituency of the NA-125 when reached the polling station, found that the classrooms did not have doors and windows, due to which, they cannot keep the election materials there. Besides this, there was no furniture available for the staff to hold the elections smoothly.

Interestingly, eight polling stations have been established in that school of Nishtar Town vicinity of Chungi Amar Sidhu and all the POs decided to put the electioneering materials in the only room, which has door and windows.

Further, they also decided to maintain the room with the help of their representatives and police and army officials deputed there. The said POs also reported the situation to the Returning Officer concerned.

Similar, but slightly better situation was reported by some of the presiding officers of the constituency of NA-122 in the vicinity of Chungi Dogage area. The Election Commission has established six polling stations in a private school where school rooms have very limited space. The rooms are so tiny and school is located in a congested location where things could mess-up anytime.

The situation of the polling stations established in NA-120 and NA-121 private schools are similar to the above mentioned constituencies. The number of government schools and buildings are limited in these areas so the election commission has established the polling stations in the private schools without inspecting the vicinities and facilities properly.

The management of these private schools are not even cooperating with the deputed staff mainly with the women and telling them to make their own arrangements of the sitting and holding the elections.

One of the owners of these schools, talking to this scribe said that he was not interested and willing to give his building for holding the general elections. However, he was ‘compelled’ by the authorities to give the school for holding the elections. He said that in the last general election, his school furniture and other infrastructure was badly damaged and he bore the huge loss.