Elections 2024: Polling delayed in various constituencies

Lahore: Despite the start of polling time for general elections 2024 across the country at 8:00am, the polling process could not start on time at polling stations in various cities.

It is reported that polling process could not start on time due to internet shutdown and communication problems. However, the performance of polling staff is also not much satisfactory in some polling stations.

In Hyderabad, the polling materials have not been distributed yet, the polling staff of NA-220 have not been given election materials.

District Returning Officer (DRO) Tariq Qureshi said that the Returning Officer (RO) has the password and ID of the system, only after the RO login, the consignment can be started.

The polling process could not start on PS-2 in Thal, the preparations of the polling station could not be completed. The voting process could not start in polling stations of NA 198 Dharki in Ghotki. Polling did not start due to absence of agent in Ghotki.

There was a delay in the start of polling at NA-48 Shehzad Town polling station of National Assembly in Islamabad, the staff was busy in the polling arrangements due to which polling started 15 minutes late. A large number of voters outside the Shehzad Town polling station are present.

Polling could not start on time at polling station number 262 to 265 of NA-250 constituency of Karachi. The presiding officer could not reach the polling station number 262 to 265 while long queues of voters have formed outside the polling stations.

Polling staff say that they are facing problems in communication due to mobile phone network being affected.

According to the reports, the polling could not start even in the polling station number 77 of NA-246 Orangi Town of Karachi. Staff could not reach polling station number 77 of Orangi Town Super Grammar School, neither the equipment has been delivered. The security personnel and polling agents of the candidates have reached the polling station.

The polling process could not start in Karachi Constituency NA-243 while the citizens are waiting to vote, similarly polling could not start in Constituency NA-238 and Provincial Constituency PP-102 due to the closure of the polling station.

Despite the start of the polling time in Jamshoro, the polling process could not start at most of the polling stations in Jamshoro.

The cold weather in Bonir region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also led to the delay of polling at various polling stations. The agents and voters could not reach polling station number 109 Girls Degree College.

On the other hand, polling did not start on time in most of the polling stations in Mianwali Constituency NA-90. Here, the presiding officers arranged the election equipment late, while the number of voters in the morning was also low due to the cold weather.

The polling process was also delayed at several polling stations in the upper areas of Swat. The polling staff could not reach the polling stations of Gabral and Mataltan on time.

It is pertinent to note that the polling process for the general elections 2024 started from 8:00 am today, which will continue till 5:00pm without interruption.

Voters across the country will be able to cast their votes for their favorite candidates in the National and Provincial Assembly constituencies.