Gulf Today

Overseas Pakistanis vote in by-polls

Strict security arrangemen­ts were made in the constituen­cies where the by-polls were held; PM cast his vote in NA-53 Islamabad; one dies in poll-related accident

- TARIQ BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Polling for byelection to eleven national and twenty-four provincial seats was held on Sunday in various parts of Pakistan.

At least one person died in election-related road accidents. He was killed when the vehicle carrying polling staff flipped over in Khuzdar.

Overseas Pakistanis also cast their votes through i-voting for the first time.

There are total of 7,364 overseas Pakistani expatriate­s registered as voters in these constituen­cies.

A total of 370 candidates were in the electoral arena. As many as 661 candidates filed nomination papers, of whom, 271 either withdrew or retired, whereas the papers of 16 were rejected and hence nomination­s of 645 were validly accepted.

However, almost half of them have bowed out from the poll process.

Prime Minister Imran Khan cast his vote in NA-53 Islamabad. He arrived at the polling station amid tight security.

As a whole, strict security arrangemen­ts were made in the constituen­cies where the by-polls were held.

Chief Election Commission­er (CEC), Justice (retd) Sardar Raza visited the Complaint Center that has been set up to monitor the polling process.

ISLAMABAD: Polling for byelection to eleven national and twenty-four provincial seats was held on Sunday in various parts of Pakistan.

Overseas Pakistanis cast their votes through i-voting for the irst time. There are total of 7,364 overseas Pakistani expatriate­s registered as voters in these constituen­cies.

At least one person died in electionre­lated road accidents. He was killed when the vehicle carrying polling staff lipped over in Khuzdar.

Khuzdar Deputy Commission­er Mohammad Ilyas Kabzai, local administra­tion and rescue services reached the accident site.

Prime Minister Imran Khan cast his vote in NA-53 Islamabad. He arrived at the polling station amid tight security.

As a whole, strict security arrangemen­ts were made in the constituen­cies where the by-polls were held.

Chief Election Commission­er (CEC), Justice (retd) Sardar Raza visited the Complaint Centre that has been set up to monitor the polling process.

Result Transmissi­on System (RTS), which was questioned by the political parties after July 25 general elections, has been made functional.

The failure of RTS had generated a massive criticism from different segments of the society. It is now to be probed by a parliament­ary panel to see what kind of rigging was committed.

A total of 370 candidates were in the electoral arena. As many as 661 candidates iled nomination papers, of whom, 271 either withdrew or retired, whereas the papers of 16 were rejected and hence nomination­s of 645 were validly accepted. However, almost half of them have bowed out from the poll process.

Meanwhile, the ECP notiied the PTI nominee Ahmad Khan as returned (unopposed) candidate from PP-87, Mianwali.

Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal while speaking to reporters in Karachi’s NA-243 constituen­cy urged voters to “leave their beds, get out of their homes” and cast their ballots in the by-polls.

Fierce contests took place in Lahore and some other constituen­cies. The main contest in Punjab is between the PTI and PML-N candidates.

Prolonged load-shedding continued in different parts of Karachi during byelection due to which people going to cast their vote were facing dificultie­s.

Citizens demanded that facilities should be provided at least on the day of election, so that the voting process could continue smoothly.

 ??  ?? Voters lineup outside the poling station in Lahore. Right: A woman casts her ballot during the by-election in Lahore on Sunday.
Voters lineup outside the poling station in Lahore. Right: A woman casts her ballot during the by-election in Lahore on Sunday.
 ?? Agence France-presse ??
Agence France-presse

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