Milestone day for overseas Pakistanis

More than 9.23 million people are expected to cast their votes in byelections in Pakistan today.

The bypolls will be held for 11 national and 24 provincial assembly seats, with among 370 candidates contesting these constituencies.

This is first time in the country’s history that overseas Pakistanis are also voting in by-elections.

According to ECP, 7,410 Overseas Pakistanis registered with the Commission as valid voters will be able to cast their votes.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it has roped in the armed forces to ensure security.

Vacated seats

Of the vacant seats, 11 are in Punjab, nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two each in Sindh and Balochistan.

The election for Karachi’s NA-247 seat is scheduled for October 31, after President Arif Alvi was elevated from that constituency.

ECP has dispatched more than 10 million ballot papers under the supervision of the Pakistan Army to all polling stations in the 35 constituencies. Most of the seats in the by-elections are those vacated by those elected on more than one seats in the July 25 polls.