All polling stations sensitive for LG by-polls in city

The law enforcement agencies are on the tenterhooks as by-elections on 32 local bodies seats will be held today (Thursday) in 18 districts of Sindh.

Besides the terror alert in place, chances of clash between supporters of rival parties are also high. Election material has been distributed to polling officials in respective constituencies.

City Police Chief Javed Alam Odho presided over a meeting in Karachi Police Office (KPO) regarding the security arrangements for the by-election. The meeting saw presence of Zonal DIGs, District SSPs and other police officers.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar has demanded of the authorities to declare all polling stations as very sensitive and deploy Rangers to minimise the chances of rigging.

Polling will continue from 8am to 5pm without any break. At least 173 candidates of various political and religious parties are in the fray. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and independents supported by PTI are participating in the by-election.

Elections were to be held on a total of 77 local body seats in 26 districts in Sindh, out of which candidates were elected unopposed on 41 local body seats in eight districts, while no candidate submitted nomination papers on 4 local body seats. Thus, polling will be held today for 32 local body seats in 18 districts of Sindh.

PPP candidates won unopposed on 39 seats, while GDA and an independent candidate won one seat each.

Local body elections are being held on 10 local body and a cantonment board seats in Karachi. At least 295,491, including 157,617 male and 137,874 female will cast ballots to elect four UC chairmen, two vice chairmen and four ward member seats in Karachi. A total of 68 candidates are in fray for 10 local body seats in Karachi. Polling will also be held for one cantonment board seat.