ISLAMABAD:The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Monday to hold the upcoming by-polls on August 22 as per schedule setting aside concerns over terrorism and the flood-hit areas, DawnNews reported.
Moreover, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed said that armed forces personnel would be deployed at polling stations designated as 'sensitive' and 'most sensitive.'
Addressing a press conference after attending a high-level meeting, during which issues like terrorism and the recent floods were discussed, the election commission's secretary said that armed forces personnel would be deployed 4,526 polling stations to be held in 42 constituencies of the country.
He further elaborated that the armed forces personnel would be stationed outside 2,686 polling stations declared as 'sensitive' and whereas the amred forces would be deployed inside and outside 1,840 polling stations declared as 'most sensitive'.
Ishtiaq further said that the by-polls could not be delayed over security or flood-related concerns in either of the 42 consituencies.
The election commission meeting was attended by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Member of National Assembly belinging to the Pakistan peoples Party (PPP) Mustafa Sethi, secretary defence, chief secretaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab, chairman of Nadra and the chairman of NDMA.
It may be noted that today's meeting was held after requests were received from local administration which of the view that several people comprising of the electoral roll had gone missing after the recent moonsoon rains and subsequent floods.
