Karachi: The Election Commission of Pakistan has declared all polling stations for the by-elections in Karachi ‘sensitive’; thus, paramilitary forces would be deployed inside and outside the stations.
The by-elections for two provincial constituencies — PS 106 and PS 117 — are scheduled to be held on Thursday. The two seats were vacant after Dr Sagheer Ahmad and Iftikhar Alam, the former member of parliament of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) resigned.
The duo resigned after they defected from the party to join the newly formed Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) founded by Mustafa Kamal, the former mayor of MQM, who rebelled against the party in March.
The commission has chalked out a security plan for the polling at the two constituencies in the eastern and western districts of the city.
Under the plan, the police and Rangers would be deployed at all polling stations to keep a check on intruders and attempt at rigging the polls. The Pakistan Army troops would also be on standby.
The Rangers and presiding officers have been given magisterial powers to prosecute and punish any person who creates problems or tries to influence the election process.
The commission also asked the provincial government to declare a holiday in the two districts so that the voters could come in large numbers to cast their votes.
Besides MQM, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulmae Islam (JUI) are contesting the elections, but the PSP has not registered with the election commission as yet.
