Counting begins as voting process concluded

The counting of vote is in progress across the country after conclusion of the polling process at 6:00 Saturday evening.

However‚ the voters present within the premises of the polling stations were allowed to cast their vote.

After completion of the counting process‚ the Election Commission will announce unofficial results.

In all 4‚659 candidates were in the arena to contest 272 general seats of the National Assembly and more than 10‚900 for general seats of provincial assemblies.

In all 69‚ 729 polling stations had been set up with 193‚235 polling booths throughout the country to facilitate voters.

Out of 272 general seats of the national assembly elections were held in 269 constituencies as electoral process in three National Assembly seats was terminated due deaths of candidates and poor law and order.

A total 296 general seats of the Punjab Assembly were up for contest as electoral process in PP-217 Khanewal-VI was terminated due to death of a candidate.

There are 99 general seats of the provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where elections were be held.

In Sindh elections were held on 129 general seats as electoral process stands terminated for PS-64 Mirpur Khas-I due to death of a candidate.

For Balochistan Assembly elections  held for 50 general seats as electoral process was terminated in PB-32 Jhal Magsi due to death of a candidate.

The Election Commission in collaboration with federal and provincial governments‚ Pakistan army and law enforcement agencies had made elaborate arrangements to conduct polls in a smooth and peaceful atmosphere.

Secretary Election Commission, Ishtiak Ahmad Khan, told a news conference that the election was relatively peaceful and there had been a terror attack and some complaints of the late arrival of the staffers in the port city of Karachi.

He said that he is hopeful that the turn out was huge and the exact figure of voting will be determined after the counting process is completed.

He said the Election Commission has taken note of allegation if fraud and all those allegations are being looked into.

“There will be no compromise on transparency of the elections,” Khan said.

Some parties – including Jamaat-e-Islami, Muhajir Qaumi Movement and Sunni Ittehad boycotted the elections against occupation of several poling stations by the Mutahida Qaumi Movement or MQM.

The MQM itself boycotted elections on one National Assembly seat in Lyari area, which is considered as stronghold of Pakistan Peoples Party.

The Secretary Election Commission said that the election process was completely peaceful in the biggest Punjab province minus two minor incidents of taking away two ballot boxes.

He said the situation also remained peaceful in the restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and tribal regions. However, he said, there were minor incidents of violence but that did not disrupt the election process.

Khan said that despite fears of lawlessness, the polling had been relatively smooth in the violence-hit Balochistan province.

The nine-hour polling had started at 8 in the morning but was extended for an hour due to huge rush of voters at the polling stations and complaints of late arrival of the polling staff.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on May 11 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.