Vote count underway in crucial Punjab by-polls

Punjab by-polls
Vote count is underway after polling for crucial by-elections for the 20 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly ended at 5pm in most districts with Section 144 implemented to establish law and order in the province on Sunday.

However, with around 4.58m voters eligible to exercise their right to vote in the by-elections, the chief election commissioner (CEC) has permitted "all voters present on the premises of polling stations to cast their votes even after 5pm."

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) established 3,131 polling stations in these 20 constituencies, out of which 676 have been declared highly sensitive and 1,194 sensitive.

A heavy contingent of police arrived in Muzaffargarh's PP-272 allegedly to arrest PTI leader Shahbaz Gill. In a tweet, the party stalwart said: "I am not afraid of arrest. Imran Khan's soldier is not afraid of such tactics. We did not come to do terrorism, I am ready to be arrested."

PTI Chairman Imran Khan and senior leader Shireen Mazari have strongly condemned the arrest terming it a "fascist act".

Some unpleasant incidents have also been reported as polling continues. According to the commission’s spokesperson, the Election Commission Control Room received six complaints related to fights between voters and political workers, out of which three were resolved immediately, and that “authorities are taking steps to control the situation”.

CEC Sikander Sultan Raja said in a statement that “strict action will be taken” against “those involved in creating issues in the election process” and that if candidates participate in such acts “they may also be disqualified”.

A fight is reported to have broken out between political workers at the polling station of Panjar in Rawalpindi.

Home Minister and Spokesperson for the Punjab government Attaullah Tarar has also taken notice of a dispute that broke out in PP-158 Lahore. He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and Saeed Mahis had seriously injured a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker as he issued orders for the PTI leaders’ arrests.



source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/114571-vote-count-underway-in-crucial-punjab-by-polls.html

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