LOWER DIR/CHITRAL: All arrangements have been finalised for the by-election to pick chairmen of Balambat tehsil council in Lower Dir and that of Drosh in Lower Chitral on Sunday (today).

Election material has been supplied to all the polling stations amid tight security, and the polling staff has reached their duty stations, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

A total of 145,640 voters, including 65,261 women, will exercise their right to vote in the by-election for Balambat tehsil chairman.

Talking to reporters, acting Lower Dir district police officer Rashid Khan said policemen would devotedly perform security duty to ensure smooth polling.

The election commission has set up 99 polling stations, including 80 for men and 19 for women, with 266 polling booths, including 116 for women.

The seat fell vacant after the PTI-backed tehsil chairman Asim Shuaib failed to return to the council despite repeated calls by the ECP.

He has reportedly fled abroad to evade arrest in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

According to ECP, 31 police stations have been declared as the most sensitive.

Three candidates, including Shakir Shuaib of PTI, Imranuddin of JI and independent Syed Alam Shah are in the running.

PPP, ANP, PML-N and JUI-F have already withdrawn their nominees in the support of the JI candidate.

Meanwhile, 56 polling stations have been established for the by-election on Drosh tehsil chairman’s slot. A total of 63,864 voters will exercise their right to franchise in the by-election.

The office fell vacant in November last year when the incumbent Shahzada Khalid Parvez of PPP joined Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians to contest election for the provincial assembly seat from Lower Chitral constituency.

Four candidates are in the run, including two independent candidates Mohammad Aziz and Salahuddin, while Shaukatul Mulk is the nominee of four parties, including PML-N, PPP, JUI-F and ANP, and Syed Farid Jan is contesting polls from the platform of PTI.

The PTI candidate is also being supported by Jamaat-i-Islami having a considerable vote bank in the area.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2024