Vote Controversy Mars PNG Elections As Counting Begins

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, July 6, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 06th Jul, 2017 ) - Counting is under way in Papua New Guinea's sprawling elections, officials said Thursday, but voting has been marred by claims of rigging, electoral roll flaws and ballot paper shortages.

The last polling stations are due to close Saturday after two weeks of voting for the 111-seat parliament across the vast and remote country where previous elections have been tarnished by violence.

The Pacific nation's leader, Peter O'Neill of the People's National Congress (PNC), has hailed this year's poll as "calm and peaceful", even as some voters complained their Names had vanished from the electoral roll.

Students in the second largest city Lae burnt ballot papers after complaining an insufficient amount was allocated to their university, while election officials were found carrying US$57,000 in cash, media reported.

The electoral commission later reportedly said the money was an allowance for polling staff. Meanwhile voting in the capital Port Moresby was delayed for several days after polling officials went on strike over unpaid allowances.

"Polling and now counting is a success, we should be proud that this election we have managed (to) see it through," Electoral Commissioner Patilius Gamato told Thursday's Post-Courier, adding he would not declare the poll a failure.

O'Neill on Wednesday slammed opposition politicians for questioning the commission's integrity after they called for results in his Ialibu-Pangia seat not to be declared first as it could give the PNC an advantage.

"Let the electoral commission get on with its job, and in that process, these failed leaders of the past must stop trying to tarnish constitutional office holders," O'Neill said in a statement.