Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised arrangements for NA-4 by-election, scheduled for today (Thursday).

Political pundits are of the view that a tough fight is expected among candidates contesting the by-polls.

According to the Provincial Election Commission, 14 candidates are in the run. Six of them are contesting the election from platforms of different political parties and eight are independent.

As many as 269 polling stations, including 147 male, 111 female and 11 combined, have been set up in the constituency.

In total, 837 polling booths, 492 male and 345 female pooling booths have been set up by the ECP.

In addition, 269 presiding officer, 837 assistant presiding officers and 837 polling officers would discharge their duties on the polling day.

The commission will use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Peshawar by-election on a trial basis at 39 polling stations.

According to the ECP, there will be no effect on the result of by-election with the use of these machines as this was just a pilot project.

The polling will start from 08am and will culminate at 5pm. There will be a public holiday in Peshawar.

According to the ECP, 7,000 policemen will be deployed while 1,700 personnel of Pakistan Army will perform their duties to ensure security.

Published in Daily Times, October 26^th 2017.