Dec 21 , 2015
News
All set for by-election in NA-154 on Dec 23
APP
ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed preparations for by-election in NA-154, Lodhran, going to be held on December 23.
The ECP has written letter to the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity on the polling day, an ECP official said.
He said that ECP has also asked the Punjab chief secretary for announcing public holiday on December 23 in Lodhran. The presiding officers have been given powers of first class magistrate from December 22 to 24, he added.
There would be total 303 polling stations in NA-154 and around 4,25,000 ballot papers were printed and dispatched to the district returning officer, he said, and added that 20 candidates would participate in the bye-election, out of which 12 are independents and eight candidates are contesting on tickets of different political parties.
The ECP has decided to depute Pakistan Army inside and outside polling stations to ensure a free, fair and transparent by-election. The decision was taken in view of the prevailing law and order situation and on the requests made by the returning officer, endorsed by district returning officer and the provincial election commissioner, Punjab for holding the polls under proper security provided by Pakistan Army, he said.
Any member of armed forces who is present or deployed under this order shall exercise powers under section 4 & 5 of Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) as amended.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk