SARGODHA, March 26: Professors Association leader Dr Muhammad Ahmed Khan claims that a meeting has been called at a local college to take a decision about the boycott of election duty on March 28.

At a meeting held here on Friday, Mr Khan voiced his concern over the alleged misbehaviour of an election officer with the polling staff. He alleged that neither protection nor transport of any kind was being provided to the polling staff deputed in far-flung areas.

The women staff, he said, were particularly reluctant to perform duties at distant places, fearing any mishap, including snatching of ballot boxes, while coming back to returning officer's office late at night.

He also condemned the way the services of teachers were being acquired by issuing arrest warrants against them. He said the election authority should consider their replacement in case they faced any emergency.

Meanwhile, polling for the bypolls on around 50 seats in various union councils, including 10 Nazim seats, has been finalized. Around 216 polling stations have been set up with 448 polling booths.

At each polling station, there would be one presiding officer, two assistant presiding officers and two polling officers. The polling staff would be given daily allowance from Rs375 to Rs450.

Voters registered up to March 15 would exercise their right of franchize, while the voters' list used in election 2000 would be used for this purpose. The voters would be allowed to use old identity cards as well as the new computerized cards.