RAWALPINDI: A tough contest is expected between the candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as residents of PP-7 (Rawalpindi-II) constituency will go to polls today to elect their representative in the by-elections being held across Punjab amid tight security.

In PP-7 which includes Kahuta and Kallar Syedan, there are six candidates in total vying for the provincial assembly seat.

The PML-N has fielded Raja Sagheer, who had earlier been elected on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) ticket in 2018 and was de-seated last month under Article 63-A for voting against party lines, whereas retired colonel Shabbir Awan will now be contesting from the PTI’s platform.

Hafiz Mansoor of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Raja Tanveer of Jamaat-i-Islami and independent candidates Engineer Raja Nazakat Hussain and retired colonel Wasim are also taking part in the much-hyped polls.

l PML-N’s Raja Sagheer, Shabbir Awan of PTI among six candidates vying for Punjab Assembly seat l 266 polling stations set up; over 4,000 police personnel deployed

In 2018, both PML-N and PTI had lost the seat while Mr Sagheer, an independent candidate at the time, won by bagging 44,363 votes. He subsequently joined the PTI government but left after Jehangir Khan Tareen parted ways with the former ruling party.

“PML-N bigwig Raja Zafarul Haq’s son Raja Mohammad Ali always contest the election on PML-N ticket from Kahuta but this time, the party decided to give a ticket to Sagheer in return for his support to Hamza Shehbaz in the Punjab CM election,” said a senior PML-N leader.

He added that there were chances of PML-N’s victory in the by-polls.

On the other hand, the PTI also appeared hopeful. A senior leader said the former ruling party was in a comfortable position despite the defection of Mr Sagheer.

“There was an increase in the support for the PTI over the last few months,” he said, claiming that there were 90pc chances of PTI nominee’s victory.

Meanwhile, political observers were of the view that there would be a tough contest between the PML-N and PTI candidates but the position of the ruling party was better.

They said Mr Sagheer had won the elections in 2018 by bagging over 44,000 votes as an independent candidate. This time, the PPP is also supporting the former lawmaker, increasing his chances to clinch the seat, they added.

Residents were not happy with the PTI due to its performance when it was in the government. A major number of disgruntled PTI supporters had left PTI for the TLP. Though retired general and former spymaster Zaheerul Islam had expressed his support to the PTI, this would not impact voters who usually polled votes on the basis of their biradari (kinship).

266 polling stations set up

A total of 266 polling stations have been set up with 787 polling booths across the constituency that has 335,295 registered voters.

The authorities declared 23 polling stations “sensitive” and decided to deploy law enforcers to secure them on the day of the election.

District Election Commissioner Roy Sultan Bhatty told Dawn that all arrangements had been finalised with the help of the district administration and the police for fair elections.

He said the election material had been dispatched and the polling staff had reached the area, adding that security would be provided to the staff and voters.

Mr Bhatty said display of weapons, firing in the air and use of loudspeakers were prohibited and strict legal action would be taken against any violation.

Over 4,000 police officers and personnel, including over 600 women police, would be deployed at 266 polling stations, a spokesperson said while sharing details of the security arrangements.

According to the security plan, City Police Officer Syed Shehzad Nadeem, Senior Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Ghazanfar Ali Shah, SSP Operations Waseem Riaz Khan and other officers would remain present in the field to monitor the arrangements.

At least 37 Quick Response Force teams (QRF) of Elite commandos would perform duty to deal with any untoward incident, he added.

The spokesperson said 133 motorcycles and eight vehicles had also been provided to the security teams while 53 police mobiles would be on patrolling duties in the constituency on the polling day.

A total of 28 police pickets had been set up in the constituency, he added.

He said special security arrangements had been made for 76 sensitive police stations, while the constituency had been divided into two zones, five sectors and 15 sub-sectors to maintain law and order. He added that the implementation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would be ensured at all costs.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022