People took it to social media complaining that the Election Commission of Pakistan has changed the voter registration data of several citizens without their consent or even informing them.
The most common complaint was that the ECP has moved their polling stations to inconvenient locations much farther than the polling stations allocated to them in the previous elections. These complaints started pouring in after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf asked people to verify their voter registration information by sending their CNIC numbers in a text to 8300.
Dozens of social media users have so far posted screenshots of their polling stations, alleging ECP of moving their polling stations quite far away from their areas of residence.
One Twitter user shared that his polling station, which was only 700 metres from his residence, is now located six kilometres away from his house. Another citizen complained that his polling station has been moved to 20 kilometres away from his home. Another social media post claimed that several voters have been “thrown as far as few hundred miles”.
PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari has said these measures were an attempt to weaken the “strong areas” of PTI.
Journalists concerned over the matter
Journalists, politicians and citizens have all expressed serious concern over the matter, raising questions about whether it was a pre-poll rigging attempt to manipulate the forthcoming elections.
Journalist Amir Zia said the ECP had “messed up” and countless voters would have to go to far off places to exercise their voting right.
ECP denies allegations
Reacting to the complaints of the citizens, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday denied making any changes to voter registration data, saying “there is no truth in such reports.”
The electoral watchdog said that citizens facing any such issues must immediately reach out to the ECP with necessary documents for redressal of complaints.