PESHAWAR
The counting of votes was started after the peaceful conclusion of the second phase of local government elections in 18 districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa on Thursday evening as no untoward incident was reported from any part of these areas.
The polling process, which started in 8a.m, continued without break till 5pm in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Lower and Upper Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Kurram, Orakzai, and North and South Waziristan districts.
Since morning, great enthusiasm was witnessed among voters, especially youth who came in large numbers to polling stations to elect their representatives for tehsil, village and neigbourhood councils. The turnout of voters was good in the morning and after Zuhar prayers, the voters thronged to polling stations and casted their votes in large numbers as high turnout was expected.
Great spirits and enthusiasm was observed among tribal voters in Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts where votes were polled for the first time during LG elections. The supporters of candidates setup private polling booths outside of the premises of polling stations for the education of young voters. They also hired private transport to facilitate senior citizens, women and persons with disabilities.
Speaker Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani cast their vote in Abbottabad district while provincial ministers, advisers and special assistants polled votes in their respective constituencies.
Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja urged voters to exercise their right to vote in large numbers without any fear and said that no one would be allowed to take law in hands. The Chief Election Commissioner personally monitored the polling process. ECP Spokesman urged people to register their complaints on phone numbers 051-9204402-3 and fax number 051-9204404.
A central control room was set up at the secretariat of the election commission that would perform functions till declaration of all results.
Under supervision of Deputy Director Local Government Elections, Muhammad Nasir Khan and Assistant Director Mustafa Jalal, a control room was setup at office of Provincial Election Commissioner Peshawar for quick resolution of election related complaints.
Muhammad Ali Saif, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister KP also urged voters to exercise their right of franchise in large number for strengthening of democracy.
The total number of registered voters in these districts is 8,057,974 including 4,489,771 male and 3,567,703 female, who decided fate of candidates for 65 tehsils, 1,830 village and neighborhood councils.
As many as 561 candidates were in run for 65 tehsil seats, 12,980 for general seats, 2,668 for women seats, 6451 for farmers/labourers seats, 5213 for youth seats and 57 minorities seats.
Moreover, 351 candidates were elected unopposed on general seats, 533 candidates on women seats, 233 youth seats, 50 minorities seats and 151 labourers/farmers seats.
The Election Commission has set up 6,176 polling stations including 1,246 for male, 1,164 for female and 3,766 combined for facilitation of voters. Similarly, 16,509 polling booths including 9,218 for male and 7,291 for female were also established. Out of these polling stations, 1,646 were declared most sensitive and 2,326 sensitive where elaborate security arrangements were made.
The most sensitive polling stations were monitored through CCTV cameras. Carrying of arms and ammunition inside polling stations were not allowed and voters in polling stations were permitted to poll their votes after expiry of the scheduled time.
