Voting underway in D I Khan by-polls

Zahir Shah Sherazi Published September 8, 2014

PESHAWAR: Voting was underway on Monday for by-elections on Dera Ismail Khan's PK-68 provincial assembly seat.

Polling began at 8am and is scheduled to continue till 5pm.

Some 13 candidates are contesting for the seat which fell vacant after independent member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Javed Akbar was disqualified by an election tribunal in a bogus degree case.

A tough contest is expected between PTI candidate Ehtesham Javed Akbar and Murid Kazim Shah who is contesting the election as an independent candidate, but has the backing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP).

District election commissioner Mohammad Tariq said a total of 108 polling stations had been set up for 127,617 registered voters, including 58,614 female, in the constituency.

Tariq also said 54 polling stations were combined while 27 each had been set up separately for male and female voters.

Moreover, at least 770 policemen were on duty guarding the polling stations.

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Ashfaq Nizamani

Sep 08, 2014 09:39am

It is a litmus test for PTI.

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Omar

Sep 08, 2014 09:57am

This is strange... PTI is boycotting the by-elections (Sept. 22nd) in Punjab saying they don't trust the election commission but is participating in KPK? Make up your mind PTI, is EC trust worthy or not...??

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Mirza

Sep 08, 2014 11:04am

If PTI is in power the elections are not rigged like in KPK where TTP kept ANP and PPP out of the election process. Elections are rigged where PTI has lost. They are taking part in this election to save their bare majority in KPK assembly.

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 08, 2014 12:49pm

is there a seperate ECP for by-elections in KPK? you know what I mean

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Mangal

Sep 08, 2014 01:01pm

@Omar The ECP is the same but not the bureaucracy. Can't you see the difference between the ways the bureaucracies work in both of the provinces? Punjab bureaucracy is literally a slave of Nawaz family. The ECP does not come personally to rig, they go hand in hand with the local bureaucracy.

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z khan

Sep 08, 2014 02:08pm

I thought ECP is holding by election on this seat , then Why PTI is taking part in this when they claim ECP was involve in rigging in 2013. Totally bizzare

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khalid

Sep 08, 2014 03:44pm

Its actually PTI Versus All parties + Rigging

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Hasnain Haque

Sep 08, 2014 04:20pm

PTI is taking part in KP because it has better and honest Administration due to PTI good governance, it is as simple as that.

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Hasnain Haque

Sep 08, 2014 04:21pm

Lets not forget PTI has also supported other parties where rigging has taken place against Non PTI candidates.

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Hasnain Haque

Sep 08, 2014 04:22pm

It is not about whether PTI's candidate wins or not, it is about fair and transparent elections taking place without fear of intimidation or recriminations.

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Hasnain Haque

Sep 08, 2014 04:26pm

@Ashfaq Nizamani Yes you are right, this will show whether they have gained or lost popularity.

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Temor K

Sep 09, 2014 12:36am

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) candidate Ehtisham Javed has won the by-election from PK-68 Dera Ismail Khan after a very close fight today (Monday) according to unofficial results.

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Shoaib Wahab

Sep 09, 2014 01:33am

I've heard PTI has won the seat against grand alliance... Wonder if Dawn is ever going to publish the news...

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