WORLD NEWS | PAKISTAN: Voting for 63 vacant local government seats in Sindh province

Karachi [Pakistan]May 7 (ANI): By-elections for vacant local government bodies in 24 districts of Pakistan’s Sindh province, including all seven districts in Karachi, are being held on Sunday, International News Sunday reported.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), by-elections are being held across the province for 63 seats.

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Campaigning for the candidates ended at midnight on Friday. Voting for the by-election began at 8:00 am and will continue until 5:00 pm today.

In Karachi, by-elections will be held for 15 vacant seats for constituency members and 11 union council (UC) chairmen and vice-chairmen.

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According to News International, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is currently the largest party in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami, depending on the outcome of 11 UCs.

The 11 UCs in Karachi include UC-4 New Karachi, UC-6 North Nazimabad and UC-13 New Karachi in the Central District; UC-2 Korangi, UC-3 Shah Lateef Town and UC-8 Landhi in the Korangi District; UC in the Western District -1 Orangi, UC-2 Orangi and UC-8 Mominabad; UC-2 Bihar Colony in the South Division; and UC-2 Baldia in the Keamari District.

The PPP had questioned the ECP holding a by-election before the mayoral election, arguing it would set a false precedent. However, the ECP rejected the PPP’s request.

A total of 434 candidates participated in the Sindh by-election, and a total of 449 polling stations were set up. These by-elections in the province are open to more than 690,000 voters, according to international news reports.

From a security standpoint, 292 polling locations across the province have been designated as highly sensitive. Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mohammad Sohail Rajput has requested the installation of CCTV cameras to electronically monitor these polling stations to maintain security on Election Day.

He also ordered to secure water, electricity and other vital facilities at polling stations.

All presiding officials were asked to do their best to ensure a peaceful and fair vote. A press release issued by the ECP stated that voting proxies for all candidates running for election will be provided with Form 11 and Form 12 in a timely manner after the voting process is completed to maintain transparency.

The ECP also said that according to News International, a total of 168 polling stations in seven districts of Karachi were declared highly sensitive.

More than 7,000 police officers will be on duty to maintain law and order during the city’s voting period. The Provincial Election Commissioner has asked the Sindh Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner to ensure a fair and peaceful election process.

The provincial election commissioner also issued a warning that anyone found to be careless or derelict in the peaceful and transparent by-election process will be held accountable. According to News International, the ECP said it set up a central control room and monitoring room in Islamabad for three days to closely monitor the Sindh by-election. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)