Polling for the by-elections in twenty constituencies of Punjab Assembly is underway and it will continue till 5:00 in the evening without any break.
Our Radio Pakistan Lahore Correspondent Sajjad Parvez reports that these Punjab Assembly constituencies fall in Rawalpindi, Khushab, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Jhang, Shaikhupura, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan districts.
These seats were declared vacant due to defection of members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
He said around 4.58 million voters, including 2.19 million women, are eligible to exercise their right to franchise in today’s by-elections.
The Election Commission has established three thousand, one hundred thirty-one polling stations in these twenty constituencies, out of which six hundred seventy-six have been declared highly sensitive and one thousand one hundred ninety-four sensitive.
Meanwhile, a special election monitoring cell has been established at the Ministry of Interior to ensure law and order situation during by-elections in twenty constituencies of Punjab Assembly.
The cell has been established on the special direction of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for better coordination among law enforcement agencies and immediate response in case of any untoward incident during the polls.
The monitoring cell has been linked with the control centres of the provincial governments and the federal law enforcement agencies. The cell will continuously monitor law and order situation in the constituencies where elections are being held.
Punjab Rangers and Frontier Constabulary Headquarters will also be in touch with the cell, which will continue to function from today till the end of the by-elections.
Secretary Election Commission Umar Hameed Khan has visited various polling stations of Lahore and reviewed arrangements.
He also visited Control Room established at Home Economic College. He inquired about arrangements of elections and directed to resolve the complaints immediately.
Source: Radio Pakistan