PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan has ordered the deployment of armed forces along with police at polling stations during by-polls being held for tehsil councils in Peshawar and Abbottabad districts Sunday (today).

       By-polling will be held in Mathra tehsil of Peshawar and Havelian tehsils of Abbottabad at the same time.

       “Keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in the area of constituencies, the Election Commission [of Pakistan], in the exercise of powers, under Article 220 of the Constitution directs for immediate deployment of sufficient strength of police force, civil armed forces (FC), besides armed forces for which request has been made to the Ministry of Interior and quarters concernedat all polling stations on the poll day and during the transportation of the election material in the say by elections to ensure peaceful election and fulfillment of obligations under Article 218 (3) of the Constitution,” read an order of the ECP.

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       The ECP also said under Article 220 of the Constitution, it was the duty of all executive authorities in the centre and provinces to help it and the election commission and commissioner discharge their functions.

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       The seat of the Mathra tehsil council chairmanfell vacant after the incumbent, Faridullah, died from cardiac arrest, while chairman of the Havelian tehsil council Atif Munsif Khan was killed along with other people in a rocket attack on their car.

       Polling to be held for tehsil council seats in Peshawar, Abbottabad

       Polling for both slots will begin at 8am and last until 5pm.

       Polling materials have been handed over to the polling staff by the respective district returning officers, according to a statement issued by the provincial ECP.

       The polling material was distributed in the presence of provincial Election Commissioner Shamshad Khan.

       A total of 155 polling stations have been established for by-polls in Mathra tehsil. Of them, 75 are for men, 66 for women and 14 for both.

       The polling booths total 496, while 218,630 voters including 88,364 men and 77,436 women are eligible to participate in elections.

       In Havelian tehsil, 134 polling stations have been established for the by-polls. Of them, 88 are combined and 23 for men and women each. A total of 165,800 voters will use their right of franchise at 392 polling booths.

       According to the ECP statement, 84 polling stations have been declared most sensitive, 57 sensitive and 14 normal in Mathra tehsil, while 40 polling stations in Havelian tehsil are the most sensitive, 25 sensitive and 69 normal.

       Six candidates of different political parties are contesting by-elections for the slot of Mathra tehsil council slot. They include Iftikhar Ahmad of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Inamullah of the PTI, Rafiullah of the JUI-P, Azuz Ghaffar Khan of the ANP, Ali Abbass Khan of the PPP-P and Fazalullah of the PML-N.

       Similarly, seven candidates are running for the chairman of the Havelian tehsil. They include Iftikhar Ahmad Khan Jadoon of the PTI,Sardar Sheraz Afzal of the PPP-P, Malik Talha Asif of the PML-N and independents Uzair Khan, Abdullah Azam Khan and Sikandar Azam.

       Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023