ABBOTTABAD: All is set to hold the by-election in the three union councils of Abbottabad on Sunday (today).

The seats had fallen vacant after the de-seating of councillors, including the district nazim and his deputy, under the defection clause of the local government act.

To ensure free and fair polling in the Salhad, Kehal and Bakot union councils, the district police officer has imposed ban on display/brandishing of fire arms, holding of victory processions and rallies. The ban bars anyone from going within the 500 metres radius of the polling stations.

Nobody would be allowed to take mobile phones inside the polling stations, and there would be ban on display of provocative banners. DPO had also barred male agents in the female polling stations.

In Bakot UC, four candidates are in the run, including Nazir Ahmed Abbasi, Mohammad Zaheer Abbasi, Shaukat Arbab Abbasi, Zahid Hussain. The total registered voters are 21,220, for which 19 polling stations have been established.

In Kehal UC, eight candidates are in the run namely Asad Javed Khan, Altaf Hussain, Raja Mohammad Iqbal Turk, Sardar Zakir Hussain, Sardar Umair Anwar, Safdar Rana, Liaqat Ali Khan, and Mohammad Sajid Awan. A total of 13,965 registered voters will cast their votes in the 14 polling stations.

In Salhad UC, six candidates are in the run, including Chaudhry Mohammad Shakeel, Dildar, Raja Saeed Ahmed, Mohammad Shafeeq Khan Tanoli, Mufti Naeem Haider Awan, and Malik Suleman Khan Jadoon. A total of 18,773 voters are registered in the UC, for which 15 polling stations have been established.

Close contest is expected in Kehal and Salhad UCs among the candidates of PTI and PML-N as former is home constituency of provincial minister for higher education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani.

DPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar has deployed two SPs, five DSPs and more than 1,000 personnel to ensure free and fair polling. A control room to be monitored by the DPO has also been set up in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2018