QUETTA JULY 15 (TNS): Polling for by-election in NA-260 Quetta-cum-Chaghi, the Pakistan’s second-largest constituency is underway.
The polling will continue till 5pm without any break under the strict security arrangements, provincial election commission said.
The provincial government has announced that the public institutions will remain closed in Quetta and Chaghi on Saturday.
The seat fell vacant due to death of MNA Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhail of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) in May this year, who had won the General Elections 2013 on the party’s ticket.
Four lakhs and sixty thousand voters will cast their votes including 185,835 (40%) women
26 trained observers were positioned by Fair and Free Elections Network (FAFEN) to cover the whole constituency consists of 407 polling stations.
FAFEN observers are overlooking the voting, counting and consolidation of results using detailed standardized checklists.
Overall, 993 polling booths – 571 male and 422 female – have been set up. A total of 17 candidates – nine political parties and eight independents – are contesting the NA-260 by-election.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) are competing for the seat.
