PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry on Wednesday presided over a meeting to review preparations for the upcoming local government by-elections.

Provincial election commissioner Saeed Gul, IGP Akhtar Hayat Khan, secretary local government, special secretaries of home and finance departments and other senior officials were also in attendance.

The meeting discussed measures and arrangements, including the security plan, for ensuring the transparent conduct of the by-elections to be held on Oct 20. It was noted that polling would take place in 17 districts, covering elections at village and neighbourhood council levels.

Elections are scheduled on 53 seats in village councils and 54 seats in neighbourhood councils. A total of 260 polling stations have been established for the purpose. Security cameras being installed at the polling stations deemed highly sensitive.

The chief secretary emphasised that necessary funds must be allocated and utilised to ensure all required facilities were available at the polling stations. He reiterated that conducting transparent elections was the top priority of the government.

Mr Aslam Chaudhry urged the officials to fulfil their responsibilities with utmost honesty and integrity and support the election commission to complete the task in a peaceful manner.

Meanwhile, the provincial election commissioner said that the election campaign for the second by-elections on the vacant seats of various categories in neighbourhood and village councils in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would end on the night of Oct 18.

These by-elections would be held on vacant seats reserved for general, women, labourers, farmers and youth.

According to the spokesperson of provincial election commission, the districts in which elections would be held include Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Tank, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Dir and Bajaur.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024