MUZAFFARGARH, June 25: Thirteen polling stations, out of a total of 94, have been declared sensitive in PP-258 by-election, according to District Police Officer Shahzad Sultan.

To handle any eventuality, up to 1,200 policemen will man sensitive areas, mostly located in the river belts.

Mr Shahzad said he had visited the constituency along with District Coordination Officer Tariq Javed Malik to review arrangements for free and fair election.

He said police would take action against those creating the law and order situation regardless of their party affiliation. The area holds history of violence and crimes.

A close contest is likely between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Dr Zakaullah and independent hopeful Haroon Sultan Bukhari, a former provincial minister in the previous PML-Q government.

The seat was vacated by PPP MNA Qayyum Jatoi, who won this provincial seat on Feb 18 with just a 300 and something margin against the Bukhari, then a PML-Q man.

Now, Mr Bukhari claims himself to be a ruling PML-N’s man, saying after winning the election he will join the party to be made a minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Mr Jatoi, who is brother of MNA Moazzam Jatoi and cousin of another MNA Qayyum Jatoi, says by-elections are always easy ride for the ruling candidates. From this constituency, 28 candidates filed their nominations papers but the number later shrank to 12.

Sources say even though the front row runners are Mr Bukhari and Mr Jatoi but other candidates Khan Muhammad Khan Jatoi and Abid Husain Bukhari can come up with upset.