The stage is set for local government re-polls in more than 360 polling stations of 15 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. All arrangements have been finalised for polling that will take place today (Thursday) across the province. Polling will be started from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Around 500,000 registered voters would exercise their right to votes in the stated districts, where local government elections held on May 30, was marred by irregularities and mismanagement.
Stringent security steps would be made for prevention of any untoward incident on the polling day, while political figures were not allowed inside the polling stations, according to an official told this scribe. All election materials have been provided to polling staff. The entry of male is strictly banned into female polling stations. Voters were not allowed to carry mobile phone in the polling stations, while 10 persons at a time, will enter into the polling station. An emergency was imposed to hold local government re-polling in 15 district including Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D.I.Khan, Abbottabad, Manshera, Haripur and Buner. The authorities have also imposed section 144 for avoiding any unforeseen on the polling day.
The by-election of local government would be held under supervision of Pakistan Army, while security will remain high alert for maintenance of law and order situation. The re-polls is going to be held on those polling stations where allegations of widespread irregularities were reported. The Peshawar High Court, earlier, suspended the hold of re-voting process, scheduled on last May 30. In Peshawar, a total of 29 polling stations, including 12 male and 17 female, would be set up, while personnel's of law enforcement agencies will be deployed at most sensitive polling stations and booths. Around 4,000 personals of law enforcement agencies, including FC would be deployed at polling station in Peshawar. Four platoon of Frontier Constabulary will be deployed along with police at sensitive polling stations.
The re-polling will be held in more than 19 union councils in Peshawar, including 10 rural, and nine urban, in provincial capital Peshawar, including Karimpura, Yaktoot II, Hazarkhawani II, Musazai, Urmar Payyan, Kakhshal, Banamari, Sadozai Payyan, and Bazadikhel. Local government elections were contested in K-P by 84,420 candidates for 41,762 seats. Voters had the opportunity to cast seven different ballots representing general seat, district, tehsil, women, minorities, youth and labourer seat candidates. However, the elections opened a floodgate of rigging allegations.
Comments
Comments are closed.