DADU (PEN) : As Pakistan is going for elections in less than 48 hours, the staff selected for some polling stations in Dadu raises some serious questions, as the watchmen and peons from the education department will be responsible for conduct of the most important exercise in a democracy.
Although one doesn’t know whether the choice is meant to appease a particular candidate or represent some conspiracy, the list of polling staff shared by the NA-228 Dadu II returning officer appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has glaring irregularities.
So two watchmen – Muhammad Musa and Ghulam Muhammad – are the presiding officers at Bahadur Khan Naich and Phulji polling stations.
In the case of the polling station established at Jaind Lashari, however, another watchman Abdul Jabbar will perform duties as an assistant presiding officer along with Zahid Ali Panhwar and Zulfiqar Ali as polling officers, who are peons in the education department.
Rafiq Ali Jamali is the PPP nominee in this constituency where he will face Karim Ali Jatoi of GDA (Grand Democratic Alliance) among others.
SHIKARPUR AFFAIRS
JUI-F Sindh chapter chief Rashid Mahmood Soomro – a joint candidate of the PML-N, GDA and MQM-P for NA-193 Shikarpur – has alleged that the services of criminal elements have been acquired in the area, as he urged his party workers to show restraint and remain peaceful on the polling day.
He said the PPP was practically ruling Sindh and its candidate for a provincial assembly seat had housed a proclaimed offender at his residence, who was carrying a head money of Rs50 million announced by the police.
Soomro warned that the caretaker chief minister as well as Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Imtiaz Sheikh would be held responsible if any of the JUI-F workers was harmed.
It is important to note that Soomro is also challenging the PPP chairman – Bilawal – in Larkana in the race of NA-194.