Daily Times

As many as 31 candidates including 20 independents are contesting general elections for National Assembly Constituency No. NA-56, Rawalpindi-V, while a total of 523,733 registered voters including 272,459 males and 251,274 females will use their right to franchise on the Election Day.

Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Sumaira Gul, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Imran Shafique, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Muhammad Zia Ur Rehman Amazai, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan, Sajjad Akbar Abbasi, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, Sharjeel Mir, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Shehryar Riaz as an independent candidate are in the run.

According to details, all the arrangements had been finalized by the administration for the general elections and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had also announced a polling scheme for the constituency, NA-56.

Rawalpindi district administration on the directives of Commissioner, Rawalpindi Division, Liaquat Ali Chatta had finalized administrative measures including security arrangements to maintain law and order.

As many as 371 polling stations including 188 male, 181 female and two combined will be set up in the constituency to facilitate the voters. There will be a total of 940 polling booths including 480 for male and 460 for female voters in Rawalpindi-V, NA-56 constituency.

Under the polling scheme of NA-56, out of a total of 3,562 staff, there are 371 presiding officers with 1880 assistant presiding officers while 940 polling officers and 371 assistants will also perform their duties on the Election Day.

The main areas under NA-56, Rawalpindi-V constituency are Quaidabad, Pirwadhai, Fouji Colony, Mehr Colony, Awan Colony, Bangash Colony, Zia ul Haq Colony, Islam Pura, Khyabana-e-Sir Syed, Mohanpura, Bagh Sardaran, Gulshanabad, Dhoke Hassu, Rattaamral, Milad Nagar, Babu Lal Hussain Road, Waris Khan, Chitian Hattian, Raja Bazar, Satellite Town, Saddiqui Chowk, New Katarian, Phagwari, Saidpur, Eidgah, Asghar Mall, Banni and others.

According to a Commissioner’s office spokesman, the Commissioner had directed the authorities concerned to complete all the arrangements for the general elections as per the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Liaquat Ali Chatta had also ordered that the code of conduct issued by ECP should be implemented in letter and spirit, he said adding, that all possible facilities should be provided to the voters and all the activities should strictly be monitored.

Special security arrangements were also being finalized for the sensitive polling stations, he added.

Chief Secretary Punjab, Zahid Akhtar Zaman during a visit to Rawalpindi division here the other day directed the authorities concerned to finalize the best possible arrangements for the general elections 2024, scheduled to be held on February 8.

The Chief Secretary during the visit reviewed all the preparations including security being finalized for the general elections.

The Chief Secretary also visited the special control rooms established for the elections and the sensitive polling stations of Rawalpindi. The Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatta briefed the Chief Secretary about all the arrangements.

All the arrangements including security had been completed in a timely and efficient manner, he added.

The number of registered voters in Rawalpindi Division is approximately 7.5 million, the Chief Secretary was briefed and informed that 5,490 polling stations were established across the division, for which 3,604 buildings were being used.

Additional arrangements for the security of the polling stations had been made while the control rooms had also been set up.

Zahid Akhtar Zaman instructed that every possible step should be taken to implement the code of conduct, issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.