Oct 16(ABC): Pakistan braces itself for intense political activity as the polling for the crucial by-elections has begun, with scores of candidates contesting for the eight National Assembly, and three Punjab Assembly seats up for grabs across the country today (Sunday).
The constituencies where polling is taking place are: NA-22 Mardan-III, NA-24 Charsadda-II, NA-31 Peshawar-V, NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib -II, NA 157 Multan-IV, NA-237 Malir-II, NA-239 Korangi, Karachi-I.
The by-poll on NA 45, a tribal area seat, has been postponed over law and order situation.
The lower house seats were vacated after NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women.
Moreover, by-elections are also being held on three Punjab Assembly seats — PP-241 Bahawalnagar-V; PP-209 Khanewal-VII, and PP-139 Sheikhupura-V.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan is contesting on seven out of eight NA seats.
As the polling process started, Khan urged the people in the constituencies where the by-election is being held to come out in large numbers to vote.
“This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’,” he said in a tweet.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the voters to decide wisely about who they are voting for as the “development and welfare of your country depends on it”.
He also urged the people to participate fully in the polling.
“This [by-polls] is a constitutional and legal process and only people have the right to elect who they want,” he wrote on Twitter.
PTI leader attacked in Karachi
PTI Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar suffered a nasal fracture after he was attacked during the voting process at one of the polling stations in Karachi’s Malir.
PTI leader Jamal Siddiqi accused PPP’s Saleem Baloch of attacking Ghaffar in Bakra Piri area in Malir. He alleged that over two dozen men attacked Ghaffar with bricks when he went to inpect a polling station near Bakra Piri, leaving him “seriously injured.”
Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson also confirmed the attack and said he was being treated at a nearby hospital.
Individuals interfering in polling process to be held: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja has ordered the authorities to immediately arrest the individials involved in rioting and interfering in the polling process.
“Any government official if found involved in rigging will be arrested right awat and no liniency will be shown to him,” CEC Raja said while directing the authorities concerned to ensure peaceful voting.
He also urged the people to come out to vote without any fear.
Spokesperson of election commission said that Raja is personally monitoring the polling process which will continue without interval till 5pm.
The by-polls are the latest twist in political wrangling that began after Khan’s April 10 ouster via a parliamentary no-confidence vote — making him the first prime minister to be voted out of office.
Candidates can stand for multiple seats in elections. If they win more than one, they choose which to keep, and a separate vote must later be held for those forfeited.
The by-elections come as the nation grapples with the aftermath of devastating monsoon floods that affected more than 30 million people and left a third of the country under water.
The government wanted to delay the elections for at least the next 90 days as it said that security personnel were busy in flood relief works, while there were also reports of terrorist activities during the polls.
But the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) — despite two letters from the Ministry of Interior — rejected the suggestion of delaying the by-polls and asked the relevant authorities to beef up the security.
“Security arrangements should be beefed up to conduct peaceful elections […] arrangements should be put in place to maintain law and order,” the ECP said in response to the interior ministry’s last letter.
Since the federal government was busy tackling the deadly floods, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was not able to campaign up to the level of PTI as Khan went to every by-election-related jalsa for rallying his supporters.