SIALKOT: Senior officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday visited Daska and reviewed security arrangements for polling at NA-75 constituency.

The repoll is being held in the constituency on the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.They also checked several polling stations established in urban and rural areas of Daska. There are 494,003 registered voters in the constituency and the ECP has established 360 polling stations. It has declared 47 polling stations -- seven in urban areas and 40 in rural areas.

Officials said the CCTV cameras had been installed at these polling stations.

The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MNA Sahibazada Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah after protracted illness on Aug 2.

Nine candidates are in the race; PML-N has fielded Syeda Nousheen Iftikhar Shah, the daughter of the late MNA Sahibzada Syed Iftikharul Hasan Shah, while the PTI has fielded Ali Asjad Malhi.

PML-N’s candidate Syeda Nousheen said the party would win on the basis of sympathy votes and party’s vote bank in Daska had increased.

PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, on the other hand, said the PTI would also bring those voters to the polling stations who were annoyed and had never voted.

Seven independent candidates including Khwaja Atif Raza Khan (former chairman Daska Municipal Committee) are also in the run.

GUJRANWALA: A meeting chaired by Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja reviewed security and administrative matters for the by-election.

The minister said all possible steps would be taken to make the election transparent, free and fair and that those who would try to influence the electoral process or violate the code of conduct would be dealt with an iron hand.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Agha and other senior provincial officials.

The commissioner and Sialkot RPO said 10 response teams of Pakistan Army could also be called if required.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2021