Daily Times

KARACHI: All set in order to hold polling for bye-election on Sindh Provincial Sindh Assembly seat (PS-114) today as Election Commission has dispatched ballot boxes, ballot papers and election related material under government security to different polling stations in the constituency.

Spokesman of Election Commission Office, Yasir Hammed told Daily Times that 828 election commission officials 92 presiding officers, 368 polling officers and 184 asst presiding officers 184 would perform their respective duties and will monitor electoral activities. Terms of reference of the wing would cover monitoring of pre-poll, poll-day and post poll activities.

“Though their proposed Pilot Project of biometric voting system could not be carried out as national Database Registration Authority has failed to provide biometric data and voter list of the constituency, shared Yasir adding that their pilot tests of mobile apps for efficient and effective communication of poll results under the improved Result Management System (RMS) would be used during the by-elections in the year to avoid tempering and misconduct.

The appointed RA’s would capture photos after the polling through special mobile applications and they would later be sent to Election Commission directly. Use of technology would prove to be a better tool minimising the discretion in respect of change of the polling station by un-authorised officials.

Media room of Election Commission has been established and upgraded to facilitate print and electronic media. All facilities have been provided to the media room including television, internet and other facilities. Besides, the relevant communication officers would be there to inform to guide and update journalists.

Special security arrangements have also been completed as 1,500 police, Rangers and army personnel would be deployed inside and outside the polling booths to avoid tempering and misconduct.

Out of total 92 polling stations with 368 polling booths, 15 polling stations have been declared very sensitive and 33 have declared sensitive. Around 193,892 voters will use their franchise to vote. Twenty six candidates are contesting for hot-seat of PS-114.

The political pundits have observed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples party candidates are capable to clinch the seat.

Published in Daily Times, July 9^th , 2017