BUNER, Dec 26: With electioneering for the by-polls in the NA-28 constituency closing on Friday night, the district police have declared five of the 267 polling stations ‘more sensitive’ and 69 ‘sensitive’.

Keeping in view the security situation in the district, the district police officer declared that 193 polling stations were peaceful. Polling would take place on Dec 28 from 8am to 5pm.

The Election Commission has finalised all the arrangements and the election material has been provided to the returning officer. The returning officer has also collected ballot papers from the printing press concerned.

The contestants are Istiqbal Khan of the Awami National Party, Bakht Jehan Khan of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Gohar Ali of the Pakistan People’s Party, Ali Sher Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Fanoos Gujar of the Pakistan Awami Party, Maulana Fazal Ghafoor of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), Maulana Hameed of the JUI-P, and independent candidates Syed Ameerzaib and Naushad Khan.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of ANP MNA Abdul Mateen Khan. Istiqbal Khan, the nominee of the ANP for the seat, is a son of Mr Mateen.

The PPP (Sherpao) and the PML-Q have announced their support to Bakht Jehan, who was the provincial assembly speaker during the previous government of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the province.

According to a press release of the Election Commission, 290,467 voters are registered in the constituency, 125,300 of whom are women. The EC has set up 267 polling stations, including 51 stations for men, 48 for women and 168 joint stations where separate polling booths will be established for male and female voters. A total of 634 polling booths will be set up, 358 for male and 276 for female voters. Around 267 presiding officers, 634 assistant presiding officers and 634 polling officers will perform duties on the polling day.

Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq has delegated powers of first class magistrate to the presiding officers for the polling day. Necessary training has been given to the polling staff.

Meanwhile, leaders of different political parties, especially the ANP, JI and the JUI-F, made last-ditch efforts to win over voters on the last day of electioneering.