Preparations for RCB by-elections in place

Seven candidates to vie in Ward 2 polls on 9 Feb amid tightened security

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has completed all arrangements for the by-elections to be held on February 9 in Ward 2 of Rawalpindi under the supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

As many as 12 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive and 16 have been identified as sensitive, with relevant authorities deciding to tighten security in these particular areas.

Election campaigns have been restricted due to the high positivity ratio of coronavirus cases in the area and candidates have been strictly instructed to adhere to the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) during their limited campaigning and in their election offices.

Ward 2 being the largest in the cantonment with 61,124 registered voters, a stiff competition is expected between seven candidates.

The main contest is projected to take place between PML-N's Malik Tahir Ayub and PTI nominee Zainul Abidin Ijaz. Other candidates include Shaukat Ayub Jadoon, Asghar Khan Mohmand of Jamaat-e-Islami and independent candidates Maulana Muhammad Qasim, Asim Rauf and Rashid Mahmood.

The ECP has assigned the duties of Returning Officer to Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar, while the District and Sessions Judge will act as the district Returning Officer.

The by-elections in Ward 2 were originally scheduled to be held on September 12, 2021, but had to be postponed in the wake of a female candidate’s death.

According to the polling scheme issued for the by-elections, there will be 58 polling stations, 147 polling booths, 152 presiding officers, 152 assistant presiding officers, 61,124 voters (33,658 male, 27,466 female), 80 polling booths for males and 67 for females.

PPP candidate Imran Ali Kazmi has already announced his support for the PML-N nominee.

Interim preliminary results will be released on February 9, while official results will be announced on February 11.

Returning Officer Imran Gulzar has completed all arrangements for the by-election, in which the contest is expected to be a close one between PML-N's Malik Tahir Ayub and PTI's Zainul Abidin Ijaz.

Candidates have been instructed to strictly abide by the code of conduct, while special security arrangements will be made at the polling stations in addition to those declared sensitive.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2022.