KARACHI, June 20: The army has started patrolling the Landhi area to ensure peaceful atmosphere during the byelection in NA-255, where polling is scheduled for Monday, June 23.

A spokesman for the ISPR said that on the request of the government, an army contingent of less than 200 personnel had started flag march in the area.

However, if a request was made for deployment by the government, the army would be formally deployed in the constituency to maintain law and order during the byelection.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawwakal Qazi, directed the provincial administration and the DCO to take concrete measures to ensure law and order on the polling day.

Presiding over a high-level meeting, which was summoned to review the steps taken for maintenance of the law and order on the election day, Mr Qazi asked for taking all possible measure to avoid even a minor disturbance at any level.

He asked the officials to perform their duties with honesty and dedication to ensure holding of peaceful, transparent and fair election. Generators should be arranged for the polling stations, where there was no electricity, he said.

He urged the Pakistan Election Commission, Pakistan Rangers, Home department, DCO and police department, to maintain a close liaison, during the electioneering.

Home Secretary, Syed Anwaar Haider, speaking on the occasion said that besides deployment and patrolling of the law enforcement agencies, arrangements had been made for first aid, ambulance service, civil defence, fire brigade and other services, on emergency basis.

Those present at the meeting were, CCPO Asad Ashraf Malik, DG Rangers, Brig Muhammad Masood, DIG Operations, Tariq Jameel, 5-Corps Representative, Col Sajid, Pakistan Election Commissioner (Sindh), Ahmad Ali Halepota, Karachi DCO Mir Hussain Ali and EDO, Revenue, Muhammad Hussain.

Meanwhile, according to the EC authorities, 194 polling stations have been established in 97 buildings, with 662 booths, out of which, 377 are for male voters and 282 for female voters. Polling staff comprising 2000 personnel, including 194 presiding officers, will take part in the process.

The by-election campaign in the NA-255 constituency was in full swing on Friday.

The MMA candidate, Aslam Mujahid, organized a big public meeting on Friday night, which was addressed by Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.

A big public meeting of Dr Farooq Sattar, which will be addressed by MQM chief Altaf Hussain, will mark the closing of by-election campaign by Saturday night.

There are 16 candidates contesting in NA-255, however, the tough competition would be among three candidates including, Dr Farooq Sattar of Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Aslam Mujahid of MMA and Abid Jafri of Mohajir Qaumi Movement.