Strict security marks by-poll voting amid skirmishes

LAHORE:

Voting in by-elections at 921 polling stations in Lahore concluded peacefully on Sunday despite a few skirmishes between activists of parties in parts of the city.

Polling was held for two seats of the National Assembly from Punjab and 12 of the provincial assembly.

In the worst incident of violence reported on the day, a 60-year-old PML-N worker died in a clash with PTI supporters in the Punjab Assembly constituency PP-54 in Narowal district.

The supporters of both parties clashed in Kot Naju village.

The victim, Muhammad Yousaf, was hit ith a club in the head and the injury proved fatal.

Reportedly, the suspects in the attack have been arrested.

The National Assembly seat NA-132 in Kasur had been vacated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. PML-N candidate Malik Rashid Ahmad Khan and Sunni Ittehad Council's Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar contested for the seat.

For the NA-119 seat from Lahore, PML-N candidate Ali Parvez Malik contested against SIC’s Shahzad Farooq.

Samira Elahi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, alleged rigging in the election for a Punjab Assembly seat in Gujrat.

The Election Commission decided not to extend the polling time, due to which the voting concluded at 5:00pm. However, the voters present on the premises of the polling stations were allowed to cast their votes. The voting continued from 8am till 5pm without a break.

The authorities had tagged 419 of the 2,599 polling stations set up across the province as highly sensitive and 1,081 as sensitive. Over 35,000 police personnel performed security duties on the occasion.

The security arrangements were monitored through a central control room set up in the IG Office. CCTV camera surveillance of sensitive polling stations was also carried out from the control room. The RPOs and DPOs monitored the security arrangements in the field in ten constituencies where the by-elections were held.

Strict security arrangements were made throughout the province.

Under Section 144, a ban was imposed on display of firearms and aerial firing to thwart any clash on the occasion.

Over 17,000 police officials had been deployed in Lahore under the supervision of 24 SPs, 45 SDPOs and 168 inspectors.

The security personnel reached their duty points early in the morning and took positions.

Under the SOPs set by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the voters were allowed entry after checking at three points through frisking, metal detectors and walkthrough gates.

Lady constables were also on duty for the security of women’s polling stations and voters.

As many as 195 pickets were established on entry and exit routes of Lahore and security personnel deployed at polling stations across the city were on high alert. Additionally, the Anti-Riot and Reserve Forces along with paramilitary and army personnel remained on standby to handle any untoward situation.

DIG Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi briefed the police officials about their role.

Capital City Police Officer Bilal Siddique Kamyana stated that action was taken in accordance with the ECP Code of Conduct on the polling day.

Meanwhile, a PTI leader, Shabir Gujjar, was arrested by the police.

At a few points, PTI and PML-N workers confronted each other, but the situation was defused after the intervention of law enforcement agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2024.