Allegations of obstruction against duly appointed polling agents surfaced at several voting centres on Thursday, prompting independent candidate Dr Tasnim Jara to lodge a formal complaint after visiting multiple polling stations.
According to the complaint, polling agents representing the “Football” symbol were barred from entering or asked to leave centres numbered 54, 125, 164, 165 and 167. Presiding officials allegedly cited that the agents were not voters of the respective constituencies.
However, election law does not require a polling agent to be a voter of the constituency where they are appointed.
In several centres designated for female voters, male polling agents were reportedly denied entry on the grounds that men cannot serve as agents in female polling centres. The complainants argue that there is no provision in the election law restricting polling agents based on gender.
Further allegations state that in some centres, polling agents who arrived later in the day were refused entry because voting had already begun. Under election rules, authorised polling agents are allowed to enter polling centres at any time before the close of voting at 4:30pm.
In a number of instances, agents who presented their National Identity Card (NID), photograph and duly signed authorisation letter — documents required under Election Commission guidelines — were allegedly asked to provide additional proof of affiliation with the “Football” symbol.
According to the complaint, there is no legal requirement for a separate party or volunteer identity card. The Election Commission’s official training for polling agents reportedly clarified that NID, photograph and authorisation letter are sufficient documentation.
After visiting several centres, Dr Tasnim Jara expressed concern that such actions could undermine transparency and the uniform application of election laws.
“These incidents directly affect the integrity of the polling process,” she said, urging the Election Commission to take immediate steps to ensure that rules are applied consistently across all polling stations.
No immediate statement from the Election Commission was available at the time of filing this report.
