KOHAT: The Election Com­mis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) has completed all arrangements for Sunday’s by-election in NA-33 constituency. The NA-33 seat fell vacant after PTI MNA Khayal Zaman Orakzai’s death on Feb 14.

Polling will begin 8pm and continue till 5pm. According to the ECP, 318,900 voters are eligible to cast their votes in the constituency.

The commission has set up 210 polling stations. Of these, 55 are men-only, whereas 91 are combined polling stations.

The ECP has also declared 110 polling stations sensitive and 77 extremely sensitive, according to a statement of the commission issued here on Saturday.

Five candidates are contesting the by-poll, including PTI’s Nade­­em Khan, ANP’s Saeed Omar, JUI-F’s Obaidullah, and independent candidates Attiq Ahmed and Mohammad Saeed.

It may be recalled that 123 members of PTI have resigned from the National Assembly over the “cablegate” issue that led to the ouster of Imran Khan’s government. Yet, PTI is taking part in the Hangu by-poll.

The election material was dispatched to the polling stations on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the Hangu district administration has finalised a foolproof security plan and 4,500 security personnel will be deployed to ensure peaceful holding of the by-election.

District police officer Ikramullah Khan told Dawn that 110 polling stations had been declared most sensitive, 77 sensitive, and 33 normal out of a total of 210 polling stations.

He said that services of Frontier Constabulary, Quick Response Force and mobile teams had been acquired to ensure peace by dividing areas into circles, sectors and sub-sectors.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2022