Polling began at 8:00AM for by-election on the National Assembly’s NA-122 (Lahore), NA-144 (Okara) and the Punjab Assembly’s PP-147 seats on Sunday.
The voting process was scheduled to continue uninterrupted until 5:00PM for the biggest by-elections in Pakistan’s history that is likely to decide the future course of the country’s politics.
The key battle was taking place in Lahore, traditionally considered the epicenter of the country’s politics.
By-elections are being held for National Assembly’s NA-122 and provincial assembly’s PP-147 in the Punjab capital. By-poll for NA-144 Okara are also taking place today.
A close fight is expected between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by flamboyant cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
Strict security arrangements have been made for the by-polls as Pakistan Army personnel alongside police was deployed at sensitive polling stations to avoid any untoward incidents.
Ayaz Sadiq casts vote, speaks to media
PML-N candidate Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was present at the polling station early in the morning to cast his vote.
Speaking to reporters, Sadiq said that there was no tension, and that the atmosphere was as if it was the day of Eid.
“My entire family has donned our starched kurtas to come vote and it feels like it is Eid day. Thanks to Allah, I slept peacefully for a few hours and our polling agents were here at 7:00AM, which shows their passion and energy.
“Our party has directed workers not to get involved in any sort of scuffle and to ensure that the atmosphere stays peaceful,” he said.
Aleem Khan visits Data Darbar
PTI candidate Aleem Khan visited Data Darbar, the shrine of Sufi saint Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh, in Lahore before casting his vote. The PTI leader prayed for success at the shrine in the NA-122 by-poll.
‘Battle with status quo’
PTI senior leader Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, who was also present at the polling station early in the morning, blamed the ruling PML-N of using state machinery in its campaign against the PTI in the NA-122 by-election.
“Our election is against the Punjab government. The police are fighting against us, the cabinet of the Punjab government and the federal cabinet is campaigning against us. Even WAPDA and railways is campaigning against us here,” said PTI senior leader Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar.
“This is not a competition between two political parties. It is a battle between the Tehreek-i-Insaf and all the forces of the status quo,” he added.
NA-122 Lahore-IV
The seat fell vacant on August 22 this year following the verdict of an election tribunal against former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N, declaring the 2013 poll results null and void.
Although almost 20 candidates are contesting the by-election, the main competition is likely to take place between Sadiq and Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Aleem Khan.
Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Barrister Mian Amir Hassan and Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are other prominent candidates for the National Assembly seat.
Number of total registered voters in the constituency is over 347,762, out of which 190,328 are male and 157,434 female voters.
180 out of total 284 polling stations have declared sensitive. 673 polling both have been set up for male and female voters separately.
PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq succeeded in securing 93,389 votes in the 2013 general election. His closest rival was PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who managed to bag 84,517 votes.
Expressing dissatisfaction on the results, Khan had been demanding an audit of the poll right from the day one.
PPPP’s Amir Hassan could only manage to grab 2,833 votes in the 2013 polls.
PP-147 Lahore-XI
The Punjab Assembly seat fell vacant following the verdict of an election tribunal earlier this year, which declared the 2013 poll results null and void.
About 11 candidates are partaking in the by-election including PML-N’s Mohsin Latif, Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui of PTI, Advocate Iftikhar Shahid of PPP and Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry, who is also the party candidate for NA-122.
Candidates of PML-N, PTI and PPP also came face to face in the 2013 election as Mohsin Latif of PML-N came out victorious with 36,781 votes back then.
Siddiqui of PTI came second with 30,174 votes while PPPP’s Advocate Shahid could secure 1,873 votes only.
Total number of registered voters in the provincial constituency is over 140,767, out of which 77,729 are male and 63,038 are female voters.
Several polling stations of the total 111 have been declared sensitive for today’s by-poll.
