The by-election in NA-75 Sialkot constituency began Saturday under tight security measures. The voting time is from 8am to 5pm.
A tight contest is being expected between Nosheen Iftikhar of PML-N and PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi.
Sialkot’s NA-75 seat fell vacant after PML-N MNA Iftikharul Hassan Shah died of a heart attack in August 2020. He was also a member of the standing committees on Interior and Narcotics Control and National Food Security and Research.
Shah was appointed MNA from the area thrice. He won the seat after securing 40,042 votes during the 2018 General Election.
The constituency is known as a PML-N stronghold. Shah’s daughter contested the by-election on the party’s ticket.
The by-elections were held in the Sialkot constituency on February 19.
Its results became controversial after presiding officers of some polling stations went ‘missing’ and came with results the next day.
The PML-N challenged the results in the Election Commission and the electoral body ordered re-polling in the entire constituency.
PTI’s Asjad Ali Malhi, who contested the by-election, approached the Supreme Court and challenged the ECP’s February 25 decision. He said that the commission did not review the record completely and its decision is not based on facts. The verdict should, therefore, be declared null and void.
His petition was dismissed.
About the constituency
The total number of registered voters in the constituency is 494,000.
Three hundred and 60 polling stations have been set up, of which 47 have been declared sensitive.
Over 4,000 police officers have been deployed, along with 1,048 Rangers personnel and 10 teams of the Pakistan Army Quick Response Force.
There is a complete ban of display of ammunition in the election. Section 144 has been imposed.
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