LG re-polls: Ruling parties join hands with QWP in Charsadda
Security officials and police to man polling stations.
Security officials and police to man polling stations. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
SHABQADAR:
The stage is set for local government re-polls in 45 polling stations of Charsadda’s 16 union councils.
A series of preparations have been made for polling that will take place on Thursday. Women polling officials have been trained while the necessary documents will be handed over to them on Wednesday (today).
Security is being prioritised, and the armed forces and police will jointly man polling stations on Election Day.
Shabqadar Additional Assistant Commissioner and RO Haseebur Rehman told The Express Tribune stringent security measures are being undertaken and Section 144 has already been imposed in the district.
Rehman added the administration will ensure people are able to cast their votes in a peaceful environment and no untoward incident occurs. “Polling staff, except the presiding officer, will not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling station,” he said. “Officials will also have to wear their ID cards for verification.”
According to Rehman, no party will be allowed to set up election offices within 200 yards of the polling stations. “At least 10 security officials will be deployed at every polling station,” he said. “All 13 stations in seven union councils in Shabqadar have been declared sensitive.”
The stakeholders
With election campaigns drawing to a close on Tuesday night, various parties are poised for a final face-off. PTI and JI’s camp has now been strengthened further with the addition of QWP.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the halfway line stands ANP that is looking to avert all threats in its hometown with help from PPP and JUI-F.
However, there are numerous berths where the tripartite alliance members are neck-and-neck against their own allies. An alliance leader requesting anonymity said the parties are united over a one-point agenda and that it doesn’t make a difference if they contest against each other. “One ally’s victory is the victory of the entire group,” he added.
All-out efforts
Those candidates who are in the run are exhausting all efforts to ensure they seal the deal this time around. They are not only counting on their own parties for victory but are also buying off independents and other unsuccessful candidates to muster support. A series of meetings have been held with local elders and edibles are being distributed in various localities to ensure all goes well on Election Day.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2015.
The stage is set for local government re-polls in 45 polling stations of Charsadda’s 16 union councils.
A series of preparations have been made for polling that will take place on Thursday. Women polling officials have been trained while the necessary documents will be handed over to them on Wednesday (today).
Security is being prioritised, and the armed forces and police will jointly man polling stations on Election Day.
Shabqadar Additional Assistant Commissioner and RO Haseebur Rehman told The Express Tribune stringent security measures are being undertaken and Section 144 has already been imposed in the district.
Rehman added the administration will ensure people are able to cast their votes in a peaceful environment and no untoward incident occurs. “Polling staff, except the presiding officer, will not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling station,” he said. “Officials will also have to wear their ID cards for verification.”
According to Rehman, no party will be allowed to set up election offices within 200 yards of the polling stations. “At least 10 security officials will be deployed at every polling station,” he said. “All 13 stations in seven union councils in Shabqadar have been declared sensitive.”
The stakeholders
With election campaigns drawing to a close on Tuesday night, various parties are poised for a final face-off. PTI and JI’s camp has now been strengthened further with the addition of QWP.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the halfway line stands ANP that is looking to avert all threats in its hometown with help from PPP and JUI-F.
However, there are numerous berths where the tripartite alliance members are neck-and-neck against their own allies. An alliance leader requesting anonymity said the parties are united over a one-point agenda and that it doesn’t make a difference if they contest against each other. “One ally’s victory is the victory of the entire group,” he added.
All-out efforts
Those candidates who are in the run are exhausting all efforts to ensure they seal the deal this time around. They are not only counting on their own parties for victory but are also buying off independents and other unsuccessful candidates to muster support. A series of meetings have been held with local elders and edibles are being distributed in various localities to ensure all goes well on Election Day.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2015.