Polling for the by-election to National Assembly constituency NA-193 in Rajanpur began as scheduled on Sunday, despite the provincial government’s request to postpone the polls.
The Punjab Home Department had requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the by-elections due to security concerns, but the Election Commission rejected the request.
The ECP said in a statement issued this morning that the polling started at the scheduled time of 8 am and will continue till 5 pm without any break. It said that a control room has been set up at the ECP Secretariat to monitor the election and redress complaints related to polling.
According to the electoral body, 11 candidates are contesting in the by-election while there are 379,204 registered voters in the constituency, of which 206,497 are male and 172,709 are female voters.
The ECP said that 237 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, where police personnel have been deployed for security. Meanwhile, 200 personnel of the Punjab Rangers are also on duty as a quick response force, the election body said, adding that strict action will be taken against those violating the election code of conduct or disrupting the polling process.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had nominated Mohsin Laghari to contest the by-election in NA-193 of Rajanpur while PTI chief Imran Khan filed nomination papers due to fear of disqualification in Terrian White case. were taken back.
Meanwhile, Amar Owais Leghari is contesting on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Akhtar Hasan Gurchani on the ticket of Pakistan Peoples Party.
This seat fell vacant after the death of PTI MLA Jafar Khan Leghari. He died in Lahore on 31 December 2022 after a long illness.
