Voting continues in Pakistan’s NA-168 by-election — Dawn

Voting is underway on Sunday in the by-election for Pakistan’s National Assembly constituency NA-168 in Bahawalpur. A close contest is expected between Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, the candidate of the ruling PML-N, and independent candidate Wali Dad Cheema, Dawn reports.

Voting schedule

Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. and are scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. Khuda Gohar, a spokesperson for the Election Commission of Pakistan, said that voters who are within the polling station premises at the time of closing will be able to cast their ballots after 5:00 p.m.

The seat in the constituency became vacant following the death of Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in August. His son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, is now running for the ruling party.

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Voters and security measures

According to the office of the provincial election commissioner, 483,143 voters are registered in the constituency, including 248,259 men and 234,614 women. A total of 292 polling stations have been set up for voting. They have 307 presiding officers, as well as 941 election officers and assistant presiding officers.

On the eve of the vote, Punjab’s interior department asked the Interior Ministry to deploy units of the Pakistan Army and Punjab Rangers to ensure the peaceful and secure conduct of the by-election.

On September 12, an armed clash took place in Bakirpur during Cheema’s election campaign between supporters of rival candidates. According to the Rescue 1122 service, some participants opened fire, leaving three people injured. Wali Dad Cheema is the son of former PML-Q federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.