Daily Times

LAHORE: Except a few brawls polling for the by-election in NA-120 remained peaceful owing to strict security arrangement.

Personnel of the Pakistan Army were deployed in and outside every polling station to avoid any untoward incident, while over 8,000 policemen also performed security duties.

Rangers personnel were seen patrolling the roads falling within the constituency to ensure peaceful atmosphere for the cliffhanger by-election.

Tight security arrangements were maintained in and around the polling stations in the constituency, however, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) instructions to keep non-voters away from the 400 yards radius of the polling stations were not observed in some areas of the constituency.

Meanwhile, Punjab Rangers Director General Athar Naveed Hayat Khan visited several polling stations to monitor the security arrangements. He also met several male and female voters and asked them about the security arrangements.

Unluckily, an untoward incident occurred outside a polling station when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Bilal Yaseen started quarrelling with police officials after he was barred from entering the polling station.

Another unpleasant incident was witnessed at the Fatima Jinnah Polling Station where supports of two mainstream political parties – the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – exchanged blows after chanting slogans against each other.

Police and Rangers brought the situation under control and dispersed the angry supporters.

Also, the election code of conduct was flouted by PML-N MPA Rana Mashhood when he visited several polling stations along with his private security guards, carrying weapons. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had strictly barred display of weapons during the polling.

A few minor clashes between the supporters of different political parties were also reported from different areas of the constituency, including Mozang, Outfall Road, Islampura, Bund Road, Mozang Adda, Central Model School, Abdali School and others.

Worst traffic gridlocks were also observed in several areas throughout the polling day near polling stations. Voters and commuters remained stuck in long queues of vehicles on several roads due to polling camps established by different political parties.

It might be mentioned that all 220 polling stations were declared sensitive.

Published in Daily Times, September 18^th 2017.