LAHORE : (July 17, 2022). Updated at 12. 05 PM
Voting for by- polls for 20 constituencies in Punjab is in progress . The voters are casting votes in their concerned polling booths.
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In PP 158 constituency, the workers of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) had scuffle at polling booth no 50 and 51 and as a result voting remained suspended for some time.
However, the Rangers managed to restore law and order at the disturbed polling booths that resulted in restoration of voting process.
Updated 10.50 AM .
A political fight for Lahore thrown Bagan with start of voting for by-polls in 20 constituencies of Punjab started at fixed time.
During the first one hour slow turn up remained slow at polling booths. However, it is starting to pick up momentum with passage of time.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) , 175 candidates are vying for 20 seats of the Punjab assembly.
Voting will remain open till 5 PM today. However, the voters who will be present in premises of elections booths would be allowed to vote after 5 PM.
Finally , day of judgement for both key stakeholders of by-polls in Punjab has reached. Today (Sunday) , the voters will cast their right to vote in 20 constituencies of Punjab and elect their representatives .
These constituencies had fallen vacant after disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) member of the Punjab assembly who voted for Hamza Shahbaz in chief minister election held on April 10, 2022.
Today”s by election in the Punjab is of great importance for both mail political parties…Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) as their political fate is attached with outcome of today’s. by-polls.
The winner of today’s by-elections will rule in the Punjab till holding of the general elections in the country.
The PTI and PMLN are putting everything to win this do n die by-elections.
The PTI is accusing pre-poll rigging by PMLN to win by;election by hook or crook. In sheer contrast to PTI allegations against PMLN its own office bearers have been allegedly found involved in buying of indenting cards from the voters. The police claimed on Saturday that it arrested Khalid Sindhu of PTI who on the instruction of Furrukh Habib purchased 7000 identity cards from the voters belonging to PP-168 constituency
In total , 175 candidates are contesting for 20 seats of Punjab assembly.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made strict security arrangements to provide a fool proof security to the voters and staff on election duty. The Rangers and law enforcing agencies have been called in to maintain law and order situation during the by-elections in 20 constituencies of the Punjab province.
ECP has set up a central control room to monitor the situation during the voting and use law enforcing agencies on emergency basis to avert any possible untoward incident .