MULTAN: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday rejected a request put forward by the Punjab government to postpone the upcoming by-election on Multan's NA-149 seat on account of security concerns.

ECP said permitted the government to deploy Rangers personnel at polling stations in light of the stated security concerns in Multan and said the by-polls would be carried out with the security under the Rangers' management.

By-polls on the vacant seat will take place as per the schedule on Oct 16, the ECP said.

The Multan seat had fallen vacant following the resignation of former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) President Javed Hashmi. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had accepted Hashmi’s resignation from the seat with effect from Aug 18.

Also read: NA-149 by-poll: bumpy road ahead for renegade Hashmi

Hashmi had however announced that he would contest the by-polls as an independent candidate. Moreover, leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) had hinted at supporting Hashmi in the by-election after Hashmi held press conferences alleging that the PTI's sit-ins and protests in Islamabad were part of a ‘conspiracy’ against democracy.