Voting for Dadu, Thatta, Vehari by-polls kicks off

DADU: Polling is underway for by-elections on two Sindh Assembly seats and one Punjab Assembly seat, Geo News reported on Monday.

According to details, polling is underway in PS-73 Dadu, PS-84 Thatta-1 and PPP-239 Vehari constituencies.

Deputy Commissioner Thatta Muhammad Nawaz Sooho had declared Monday a public holiday in Taluka Thatta on account of by-election in this constituency.

The seat fell vacant after the resignation of Sindh Minister and MPA Sadiq Memon.

There are four active candidates in the field after withdrawals and retirement of other candidates. They are former PPP MPA Sadiq Memon, Manzoor Khushik, Hasan Jakharo and Abdul Wahid Brohi.

However, the main contest appears to be between PPP candidate Sadiq Memon and an independent Hasan Jakharo.

There are a total 150052 registered voters that include 80568 male and 69484 female voters. There are 156 polling stations with 399 polling booths that include 22 for male and 171 for female voters. Out of these polling stations, 26 have been declared sensitive.

The administration has taken all measures to ensure free and fair polling under strict security.

SSP Waqar Malhan told newsmen that 600 police personnel have been deployed at the polling stations. He said that rangers have also been alerted to be on call in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile polling staff, ballot papers and other election materials were being dispatched to respective polling stations under strict security by the office of the Returning Officer and District Election Officer Syed Akram Tariq.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Anwar Ali Panhwar said that strict security measures have been adopted by the administration to ensure free and fair election in a peaceful atmosphere on the day.

On the other hand arrangements have been finalized for by-election on PS-73 scheduled on Monday, and the administration has summoned additional police force from other areas of the province, terming 30 polling stations sensitive.

The seat fell vacant after the resignation of PPP-P leader and Sindh finance minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. However, 16 candidates including Syed Murad Ali Shah and Roshan Ali Buriro of Sindh United Party are contesting the polls.

About 162 polling stations and 415 polling booths have been set up for the by-polls. There are 155509 registered voters in this constituency.

Moreover, polling for by-election in Punjab Assembly constituency PPP-239 Vehari VIII will be held on Monday.

The seat was lying vacant since the death of PPP MPA Sardar Muhammad Khan Kichi.