Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)—an independent organization—on Friday issued its detailed report on the by-elections in Punjab constituency PP-84 Khoshab-III, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.
The Fafen has declared in its report that despite hot weather and COVID-19 associated challenges, the PP-84 Khushab-III by-election held on Wednesday, May 5 witnessed improved election management and an encouraging turnout of (52.99 percent) with low incidence of procedural violations.
The report said that the election turnout, though encouraging for a by-election, was lower than 61.7 percent turnout recorded during General Election (GE) 2018. It observed a total of 83 violations of electoral laws, rules, and various codes of conduct issued by the Election Commission.
It is claimed in the report that during the elections, only 49 percent of the observed polling stations strictly enforcing the SOPs, adding that the majority of the observed violations were of the ban on campaigning and canvassing in surroundings of the polling stations.
Congested areas, as well as unavailability of electricity, were observed as a key hurdle for the smooth polling process at different polling stations and booths.