Polling is taking place today (Nov 8) in two by-elections, PP-203 Sahiwal-VI and NA-77 Gujranwala. Election authorities have put arrangements in place for polling staff, transport and security, with the aim of keeping the process orderly and peaceful.
Staffing and transport for PP-203 polling
In PP-203, in tehsil Chichawatni, 1,370 polling personnel have been posted to 185 polling stations. The team comprises 574 women and 796 men, and 54 women were named presiding officers at female and combined stations.
Returning Officer Khudad Tarar told reporters by phone that all election material had been handed to staff by Saturday afternoon. Personnel then left for their stations, escorted by police and other security officials. The administration arranged 185 vehicles, made special accommodation at remote rural polling stations, and kept about a dozen extra vehicles at his office for emergencies.
Police deployment and security plans
District Police Officer Usman Tipu said 1,100 police personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order during the by-election. Of the 185 stations, 11 have been classified as Category A, 37 as Category B and 137 as Category C.
The security plan includes 150 female police officers, while Elite Force teams will carry out regular patrols in and around polling stations. The Anti-Riot Force and seven police reserve units will stand by to respond to any incident, and Rangers will be held in reserve. A traffic management plan has also been finalised, with more than 65 personnel assigned to regulate traffic and assist voters.
NA-77 Gujranwala seat and opposition stance
Polling in NA-77 Gujranwala is also scheduled for Nov 8. The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MNA and former federal minister Chaudhry Mehmood Basheer Virk in September.
The PML-N has fielded Rashid Basheer Virk, the deceased lawmaker’s son, as its candidate. Major opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), have opted not to contest the by-election.
