Polling for NA-162 by-election underway amid strict security

Seven candidates are vying for the NA-162 by-election. Three are said to be leading contestants including Rai Murtaza (PTI), Muhammad Tufail Jutt (PML-N) and Shahzad Saeed Cheema (PPP).

The seat fell vacant after courts disqualified PTI’s Rai Hassan Nawaz for asset concealment.

The authorities have declared 22 polling stations highly sensitive and 92 sensitive and deployed extra security contingents in the aforesaid places.

According to local ECP, as many as 293 polling stations (84 for male voters, 83 for females and 126 combined) have been set up in the constituency having 816 polling booths. Around 1,950 employees of different departments had been deputed as election staff.

Besides, around 800 army personnel will also be deployed inside and outside the polling stations for security.

Meanwhile, the district government has announced a local holiday on Sept 19 in connection with the by-election.