LAHORE, Aug 21: The army was deployed outside the 408 sensitive polling stations on Wednesday for by-election to 42 provincial and national assembly seats.

In Punjab, by-election is being held on 15 provincial and six national assembly seats.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tasadduq Hussain Gilani presided over a meeting here on Wednesday. Provincial Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwar, Joint Provincial Election Commissioner Khaleequr Rehman, regional election commissioner and district returning officer attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the arrangements for the by-polls being held on the vacant seats of national and provincial assemblies.

Apart from the police, the assistance of the army would also be available at sensitive polling stations for peaceful voting. The meeting was informed that 3,845 polling stations had been set up for the election to seven national and 15 provincial assembly seats in Punjab whereas the total number of polling booths was 10,256.

The officials said the army would be deputed outside the 408 highly sensitive polling stations whereas it would be available outside 1,423 sensitive polling stations for ensuring law and order. “The purpose of all the arrangements is to provide peaceful atmosphere to the voters for exercising their right of franchise.”

The district returning officer of Lahore informed the acting chief ECP about the arrangements made for by-election in the city.

The acting chief ECP said peaceful, impartial, free and fair election was the responsibility of the Election Commission. He said the polling staff should discharge its duties with responsibility so that voters could exercise their right of franchise in a peaceful atmosphere.