ATTOCK, Feb 20: The district administration declared on Monday 34 polling stations, out of the total 170, “very sensitive” for by-election on provincial assembly seat PP-18, Attock-IV, to be held on Feb 25.

In a press release,  the administration said as per election security  contingency plan,  total 170 polling stations were established  in the constituency, out of  which,  34 are of category-A, 44 of category-B and 92 of category-C.

21 of them are for males, 19 for females and 130 are combined polling stations. Over 2,000 police officials would be deployed to ensure security on the day of election. There are total 195,883 registered votes including 90,815 of females in the constituency, which consists on 18 union councils of Pindigheb and Fatehjang tehsils of the district.

The eight candidates contesting the election are Malik Sameen Khan of PPP, Malik Mohammad Azam of PML-N, Afzal Hussain, Malik Amanat Khan, Bashir Ahmed, Zubair Khan, Atta Mustafa Jameel and Mohammad Saleem.  Meanwhile the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Capt (retd) Mohammad Zubair visited the district police headquarters to review the security arrangements. The District Police Officer (DPO), Dr Mohammad Akhtar Abbass, while briefing the RPO, claimed that all arrangements have been finalised. He further informed the senior that there will be complete ban on aerial firing, brandishing, displaying of arms and controversial speeches in the constituency. — Yaqoob Malik