ISLAMABAD: By-elections will be held in 41 constituencies of national and provincial assemblies in 33 districts across the country today (Thursday).
More than 5.1 million voters will cast their votes for 15 National Assembly constituencies, while over 3.7 million people are expected to vote for 26 seats of four provincial assemblies.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a public holiday on August 22 in 33 districts across the country for facilitating the voters of these districts to cast their votes in the by-elections.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced postponement of by-election in Dera Ismail Khan’s NA-25 constituency due to deteriorating law and order situation in the area.
On the other hand, the ECP has finalised the security plan for the by-elections which says five security personnel will be stationed at normal polling stations, at least seven at sensitive while 10-20 at highly sensitive polling stations.
According to the ECP, army troops will separately be deployed at polling stations depending upon the requirements.
Moreover, troops have been deployed in and outside the sensitive polling stations across Sindh including Karachi in the backdrop of coming by-polls and to avoid any untoward situation.
The ECP said that army personnel will be able to exercise the powers of the first-class magistrate on August 22 under which they will be able to punish any perpetrators.
A total of 819 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive across Sindh including Karachi while more than 300 as sensitive.
Among the national assembly 16 constituencies, Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vacated five seats, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) two each, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Pukhtunkhaw Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and an independent member assembly one each, while Hafizabad and Thatta seats fell vacant due to the disqualification of successful candidates of these constituencies over fake degree and dual nationality.
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By-elections 2013 Pakistan
By-polls 2013 Pakistan
