ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: Rangers have been called in to provide security to thousands of polling stations set up for by-elections taking place in Punjab on Tuesday for two national and six provincial assembly seats, official sources told Dawn.

Letters on behalf of the Chief Election Commissioner have been sent to the chief secretary, the inspector general of police, the director general of Punjab Rangers, district coordination officers and district police officers concerned to ensure foolproof security during the voting.

Punjab Rangers has been asked to patrol around the polling stations and accompany the presiding officers carrying polling bags to the offices of returning officers at the close of the voting. The CEC has warned that any deviation may entail legal consequences.

Since Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf continues to follow its policy of staying away from by-polls, most of the constituencies are expected to witness a straight fight between the PML-N and joint candidates of the PPP and its coalition partner the PML-Q.

A tough fight is expected between PML-N’s Malik Hanif Awan and joint candidate of PML-Q and PPP Rehman Naseer Marala for a National Assembly seat in Gujrat (NA-107). The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of PML-N’s Mohammad Jamil Malik for holding dual nationality. Malik Hanif is the uncle of Jamil Malik.Political analysts see it as a direct contest between the Sharif brothers and the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.

Another interesting contest will take place in Sahiwal (NA-162).

The seat fell vacant after PPP’s Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal was disqualified over the controversy of dual nationality.To the astonishment of many the same Zahid Iqbal is trying to stage a comeback – this time on a PML-N ticket – against PPP-PML-Q’s Ghulam Farid Kathia. Makhdoom Nasir Farid Chishti of JUP-Niazi and eight independent candidates are also in the run.

In PP-26 Jhelum, PPP-PML-Q candidate Mohammad Arif is likely to benefit from having two rivals from the PML-N – Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, father of disqualified MPA Chaudhry Nadeem Khadim, and Raja Mohammad Afzal Khan.

In an apparent move to test its popularity, the PML-N has decided to keep the contest open. The winner is most likely to get the PML-N ticket in the general election.

A direct fight between Mohammad Nawaz Chohan of the PML-N and Lala Asad, a joint candidate of the PPP and PML-Q, is expected in PP-92 Gujranwala. Nawaz Chohan is a relative of PML-N’s Ashraf Chohan who had won this seat in the 2008 elections and was disqualified recently. Ten independent candidates are also vying for the seat.

Amir Raja, a joint candidate of the PPP and PML-Q, will have a direct contest with Mohammad Akram of PML-N in PP-122 Sialkot. PML-N’s disqualified MPA Mohammad Akhlaq had won the 2008 elections against Amir Raja with a thumping majority.

Another straight fight between Chaudhry Mohsin Ashraf of the PML-N and Chaudhry Ansar Iqbal, a joint candidate of the PPP and PML-Q, is expected in PP-129 Sialkot. Mohsin Ashraf is the son of disqualified lawmaker Jameel Ashraf. Four independent candidates are also contesting.

Dr Naimat Ali Javed of the PML-N will face Chaudhry Umar Sharif, a joint candidate of the PPP and PML-Q, in the constituency of PP-133 Narowal. The seat has fallen vacant after the disqualification of Dr Tahir Ali Javed.

Mohammad Hanif of the PML-N and Naseem Iqbal, a joint candidate of the PPP and PML-Q, are in the contest for PP-226 Sahiwal.

By-election for the Sindh Assembly seat (PS-21) will also take place on Tuesday. Syed Sarfaraz Hussain Shah of the PPP, Syed Ibrar Ali Shah of the NPP and Abdul Aleem Ghangrio are among 16 candidates in the run. The PML-N is not contesting here.