ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – A day-long polling process was held in federal capital city for the first historic local bodies elections.
According to the unofficial results of all 50 Union Councils, PML-N remained at the top of list with 21 seats while PTI is second with 18. As many as 11 independent candidates were also declared victorious in the initial results.
Over 2400 candidates are in the run for 650 positions of chairman, vice chairman and councillors in 50 Union Councils.
A local holiday was observed in Islamabad where all educational institutions were closed however the offices of provincial and federal government were announced as open and working normally till 2:00pm.
Federal administration chalked out a comprehensive security plan to tackle any emergency situation during the poling process by deputing 6025 army personnel and 700 officials of Pakistan Rangers.
Another 1000 officials of Frontier Constabulary (FC) performed their duties in Islamabad to maintain law and order situation.
The personnel of local police and civil security agencies were also present on different polling stations.
The process of printing of ballot papers was also completed under the security of Pakistan Army.
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5:30pm: Polling time ends
The time allocated for poling process has ended.
2:40pm: Ballot papers end at UC-18
At least four female voters returned home without casting vote at polling station number 4 of UC-18. Returning Officer confirmed that ballot papers had ended at the polling station.
2:12pm: Polling complaints jump to 30 at ECP cell
The number of complaints received at special cell of ECP has risen to 30. The ECP secretary said that all of the complaints were addressed accordingly.
1:42pm: Polling stopped in UC-35
The process of polling has been stopped in G-6 sector UC-35 following a clash between supporters of PTI and PML-N.
PTI workers have blamed election staff for favoring PML-N candidates.
1:26pm: Voters not being given ballot papers, alleges PTI
Senior PTI leader Naeemul Haq has blamed that presiding officers were not providing ballot papers to voters at different polling station where majority of his party’s supporter reside. He urged ECP to take notice of the situation.
1:08pm: Election ink ends at UC-29
There have been media reports suggesting that election ink has ended at UC-29 F-10 sector.
12:36pm: 23 complaints received at ECP cell
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that it has received 23 complaints so far at a special cell. None of the complaint is serious.
12:13pm: PTI lawmaker visits polling stations in UC-30
The PTI lawmaker Asad Umar visited different polling stations in UC-30 to inspect the polling process.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that election staff is untrained and ECP should extend the polling time to compensate those who were not given a day off to cast votes.
11:46am: PML-N leader Zafar Ali Shah casts vote without original CNIC
Senior leader of ruling party PML-N Syed Zafar Ali Shah has cast his vote in UC-30 without having original CNIC, which prompted protest at the polling station.
The process of polling was briefly halted due to protest.
Media reports have quoted the election staff as saying that Shah was a well known personality of the area and hence they allowed him to vote without original credentials.
11:18am: CEC inspects polling in Islamabad
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd.) Sardar Raza has witnessed the polling process at different polling stations in F-10 sector Islamabad.
10:59am: PTI chief casts vote in UC-23
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has cast his vote in Model School Mohrha Noor polling station in UC-23. He was accompanied by key PTI leaders and workers on the occasion.
Posted by IK Today on Sunday, November 29, 2015
10:42am: Women quarrel at UC-48
There are reports of a clash between two groups of women at a poling station in UC-48 Paracha. Police have been called in to control the situation.
10:23am: Structure of local government in Islamabad
10:16am: ECP receives 13 complaints
ECP has confirmed that it has received as many as 13 complaints from different polling stations in Islamabad. All of the complaints are said to be minor and have been made by election staff.
9:56am: PTI demands public holiday, extension in polling time
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has requested the ECP to announce public holiday in Islamabad and extend the poling time, so that more people can vote in the first local bodies elections.
The Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza is expected to take up the applications in a meeting at ECP in a while.
9:51am: IG Islamabad Police Rangers commander visit polling stations
Inspector General Islamabad Police Tahir Alam has visited different polling stations along with Commander Pakistan Rangers to review the law and order situation during the polling process in federal capital.
9:39am: Emergency imposed in Islamabad hospitals
A state of emergency has been imposed in the hospitals of Islamabad to meet any unexpected law and order situation during local bodies elections.
9:34am: ECP website restored
The website of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started working again after half hour.
9:27am: ECP complaint cell phone numbers
ECP’s complaint cell can be reached at phone numbers 051-9210816, 9210817, and 9210818 and fax numbers 051-9210819 and 9210820 for registration of any complaint related to local bodies elections in Islamabad.
9:06pm: ECP website crashes
The website of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stopped working in a moment while polling process is underway in federal capital.
According to inside sources the website stopped working due to a large number of visitors and will be restored in some time.
8:53am: ECP complaint cell receives reports of missing ink
ECP’s complaint cell has confirmed that it has received multiple complaints of missing or improper ink from different polling stations. The commission has taken necessary measurements to tackle the situation.
8:25am: Helicopters monitor situation in Islamabad
Special helicopters are monitoring the law and order situation in federal capital city during the historic local bodies elections.
8:05am: Secretary ECP visits different polling stations
Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob has visited different polling stations in G6/III to review the polling process.
Talking to media he termed the polling process satisfactory.
7:50am: ECP establishes complaint cell
Election Commission of Pakistan has established a special complaint cell in Islamabad to monitor the situation during local bodies elections.
The cell will work in two shifts first till 5:30pm and second afterwards during the vote counting process.
7:30am: Polling begins in Islamabad
The process of voting has been kicked off on different polling stations for the historic first local bodies elections.
The process of voting will continue till 5:30pm without any formal break.
ECP to use two ballot papers in Islamabad LB polls
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that two different ballot papers are being used in Islamabad LB pols. Green ballot paper are being used for the seat of chairman and vice chairman while white for general councillor seats, the spokesman told newsmen.
