KURRAM/NOWSHERA: The voting in by-elections for the National Assembly seat of NA-45, Kurram tribal district, and the provincial assembly seat of PK-63, Nowshera, concluded peacefully on Friday.

In Kurram tribal district, polling for NA-45 started at 8am and continued uninterrupted till 5pm. The seat had fallen vacant after the demise of JUI-F MNA Munir Khan Orakzai.

The turnout of male voters was impressive compared to the women’s participation, especially in central Kurram. DPO Tahir Iqbal said security personnel and police were deployed at all the 134 polling stations in the tribal district, adding the overall election process remained peaceful.

He said lady constables were also deputed at various polling stations. A total of 27 candidates were vying for NA-45 seat. The main contestants included Fakhr Zaman of PTI, Jamil Chamkani of JUI-F and independent candidate Said Jamal.

In Nowshera’s PK-63, rush of voters was witnessed at various polling stations and the voting process remained peaceful during the by-elections.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of PTI MPA Mian Jamsheduddin, who had died of coronavirus. PPP, JUI-F and Qaumi Watan Party supported PML-N candidate Ikhtiar Wali against PTI candidate Omar Kakakhel and ANP’s Wajahatullah.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021