PTI to boycott NA-258 by-election in Karachi

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to boycott the NA-258 by-election scheduled to be held on November 24. 

The party’s candidate Muhammad Hanif Bangash will also quit the by-polls. PTI Karachi President Firdous Naqvi alleges that the Pakistan People’s Party has planned for massive rigging and voter buying in the election.

Naqvi also claimed that the PPP has sanctioned billions of development funds for the constituency, which is gross violation of the election code of conduct.

ECP releases polling schedule

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released the polling scheme schedule for by-election in NA-258, which will be held on November 24.

The seat fell vacant after Abdul Hakeem Baloch resigned from the seat after resigning from Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) to join the Pakistan People’s Party.

There are 14 candidates in the field for the by-election, but the main contest is between the candidates of PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The PML-N has decided not to field candidate in the election.

There are 408,163 registered voters in the constituency, which includes 241,792 male and 166,821 female voters. There will be 982 polling stations for the election in the constituency and 287 presiding officers for the by-election.