All set for Sindh LB by-polls today

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Sohail Rajput has said that all arrangements for the local bodies (LB) by-elections, scheduled for Sunday (today), have been completed.

“We have taken steps to provide all necessary facilities, including water, electricity and others, for voters at all 434 polling stations,” he said adding that CCTV cameras have been installed at all “very sensitive” polling stations.

The polling will be held from 8am to 5pm without any break. Polling material and equipment were handed over to the presiding officers from the district offices of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday.

According to the ECP, balloting will be held on 63 seats of different categories, including 11 seats of the UC chairman and vice chairman in Karachi division and 15 seats of ward members.

Read COAS meets Chinese, Afghan FM, discuss regional security

No party has a simple majority to elect its mayor for Karachi. The 11 seats up for grab in Sunday’s vote may not give a clear advantage to any party either, but they are important for both the PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho said that under a security plan more than 6,707 security personnel will be deployed. Election will be held on UC-4 New Karachi, UC-6 North Nazimabad and UC-13 New Karachi in District Central, UC-2 Korangi in District Korangi, UC-3 Shah Lateef Town, UC-8 Landhi, UC-1, UC-2 Orangi, UC-8 Mominabad in District West, UC-2 Bihar Colony Lyari in District South.

Combined election of chairman and vice chairman also held in UC-2 Baldia in District Keamari.

A total of 449 polling stations and 1,586 polling booths have been established and not a single polling station is nor[1]mal. As many as 292 are “very sensitive” and 157 have been declared “sensitive”. A total of 434 candidates are in the con[1]test, while the total number of male and female voters is 690,295.