The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) request for one-hour extension in the polling time.
“We will not extend polling time anywhere in the country. Voters present in polling stations will be able to cast their votes even after 6pm,” the ECP stated.
PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain had earlier written a letter to the chief election commissioner seeking a one-hour extension in the polling time under Section 70 of the Election Act, 2017, which authorises the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend polling hours.
“On the basis of reports that have been received from PML-N candidates from almost all constituencies of Pakistan, I would like to kindly request you to extend the polling time by at least one hour from 6pm to 7pm given that there are long lines of voters waiting in the queue, while only three to four persons are allowed to enter the polling station at a time to cast their vote,” the letter read.
“This is not only causing inconvenience to voters standing in lines in the hot and humid weather but also may end up depriving people of their right to vote because of this tedious, slow and cumbersome voting procedure adopted by personnel at almost all the polling stations in Pakistan,” it added.
“We are receiving complaints on a large-scale nationwide, and PML-N would appreciate if this demand of the voters is accepted to ensure that the elections are free, fair and transparent so that all the voters desirous of casting their votes are not deprived of that fundamental right,” it concluded.
Published in Daily Times, July 26th 2018.
