It’s showtime: Half a million electorates decide fate of NA-19, Haripur today

Voters of 30 polling stations become first in country to cast ballots using biometrics

HARIPUR: Under the watchful eye of the police, security officials and FC personnel, over half a million voters of NA-19, Haripur will decide upon their Lower House representative for the next two years today.

The seat fell vacant on June 19 when the Supreme Court of Pakistan de-seated the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Omar Ayub Khan on the petition of his rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Dr Raja Amir Zaman.

The players

At least nine candidates are in the run for the Haripur throne this time around. After Omar’s refusal to participate in the polls yet again over “personal reasons,” PML-N decided to pit Babar Nawaz Khan against the PTI hopeful Amir. Apart from the two main competitors, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Haji Tahir Qureshi and six other independents are also taking part, praying for a miracle to overturn the two giants. Like Babar, most of the contenders are new to the political scene of Haripur. The 28-year-old son of slain former provincial minister Akhtar Nawaz Khan is likely to make Amir, the son of former chief minister Sikandar Zaman, sweat. As Amir is looking to settle scores once and for all, his younger brother Raja Faisal Zaman is quite content with his MPA seat which he won on a PML-N ticket.

Both the candidates will draw support from their parties that are ruling in the Centre and K-P. The riveting show of power has not disappointed a bit. For the past several weeks their poll preparations have been in full swing. People turned up in large numbers to back their candidates as they held their final meetings before the closure of campaigns on Friday midnight.

Making history

Insiders told The Express Tribune as many as 577,480 registered voters will exercise their constitutional right at 513 polling stations, including the 86 reserved for women and 314 where both men and women will cast ballots. Voters from 30 polling stations will enjoy the unique privilege of being the first in the country to cast ballots using biometrics.

Augmented

Owing to the history of family feuds in the constituency and the desperation of PML-N and PTI to show muscle, 42 polling stations have been declared most sensitive while 209 have been termed sensitive.

To ensure the security of voters and timely completion of election process, 2,150 troopers of Pakistan Army, 25 FC platoons and 12,000 policemen are expected to stand guard. This was said by DSP Ishtiaq Khan. Responding to a question, he said all arrangements have been finalised and security will be foolproof.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2015.