A sudden call from the district returning officer to the election staff in Thatta district stirred unease among residents in the remote areas. Sources revealed that the trained election staff received a WhatsApp message instructing them to assemble at Government Girls High School Thatta on Sunday morning.
The staff, residing in distant areas, encountered various difficulties reaching Thatta. A teacher from the Jughshahi area expressed, “I started my journey to Thatta amidst rain, without any prior notice.”
The spokesperson of the DRO warned of strict legal action against those evading election duties. Despite reaching their destination at 9:00 AM, the election staff waited for the concerned authorities. “After a lengthy wait, we were finally given the list of respective polling stations where we had to perform our duties,” mentioned some teachers queuing to mark their attendance.
The Chief Election Commissioner of Thatta reported a total of 450 polling stations, with 31 deemed sensitive. Informing about the 4,351 election staff performing duties across the district on election day, he emphasized that absent staff would face stringent legal action, and measures were being implemented to ensure their attendance.
