Voting in by-elections begins across Pakistan

Voting started in the country’s by-elections on Thursday that will test popularity of the ruling and opposition parties, officials said.

Elections are being held on 41 seats including 15 National Assembly and 26 Provincial Assemblies across the country.

These seats were vacated by those members who had won more than one seats in the May 11 elections and on those seats where candidates had been killed and disqualified over fake education degrees.

Nearly 500 candidates representing different political parties are in the run. Over eight million people are eligible to cast votes.

The polling process began at 8 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m., without any break.

Troops have been deployed at some sensitive polling stations to ensure security, election commission officials said.

Seven thousand six hundred and six polling stations have been established for the by-elections. Of these‚ 3‚080 have been declared normal‚ 2‚686 sensitive and 1‚840 highly sensitive.

Unofficial results will be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan at the conclusion of counting Thursday night.

Election Commission has imposed ban on keeping mobile phones at the time of polling votes in the by-elections. Presiding officers have been directed to ensure secrecy of vote.

The army commanding officers, deployed at the polling stations, have been will be given powers of First Class Magistrate to punish those who will create law and order problem.

TV channels and radio stations are airing live progrmmes and holidays have been declared in areas where the elections are being held.

The Election Commission has postponed election for NA-25 D.I Khan-cum-Tank owing to security concerns.

The by-polls are being held for National Assembly seats of NA-1 Peshawar-I‚ NA-05 Nowshera-I‚ NA-13 Swabi-II‚ NA-27 Lakki Marwat‚ NA-48 Islamabad-I‚ NA-68 Sargodha-V‚ NA-71 Mianwali-I‚ NA-83 Faisalabad-IX‚ NA-103 Hafizabad-II‚ NA-129 Lahore-XII‚ NA-177 Muzaffargarh-II‚ NA-235 Sanghar-II‚ NA-237 Thatta-I‚ NA-254 Karachi East-XVI and NA-262 Killa Abdullah. In NA-48 Islamabad-I‚ twenty-two candidates are in the field. 

Seven thousand six hundred and six polling stations have been established for the by-elections. Of these‚ 3‚080 have been declared normal‚ 2‚686 sensitive and 1‚840 highly sensitive.

Election Commission has issued directions to the returning officers regarding the polls.

They have been directed to send unofficial results via fax immediately after the vote count and official results by using the computerized result management system.

Election Commission has imposed ban on keeping mobile phones at the time of polling votes in the by-elections. Presiding officers have been directed to ensure secrecy of vote.

Comprehensive security arrangements have been made to conduct the by-elections in peaceful manner. Troops will be deployed inside and outside of highly sensitive polling stations.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 22 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.