Karachi/Sanghar/Pishin: The polling for Malir’s PS-88, Sanghar’s PS-43, Pishin’s PB-20 began at 8am and will continue till 5pm.
Strict security arrangements have been made as area residents come to polling stations to vote for their area representatives.
The schedule for the by-elections of the three constituencies was announced in December 2020. On December 17, 2020 the Election Commission of Pakistan decided to hold by-polls in eight constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies. The by-polls were delayed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Malir’s PS-88
The PS-88 Malir seat had fallen vacant on June 2, 2020 after the death of minister for human settlement Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, who had contracted coronavirus.
Baloch emerged victorious in 2018 General Election after bagging 22,000 votes. PTI’s Muhammad Rizwan Khan was the runner up with 16, 386 votes.
This time a tough competition is expected between PPP, PTI, and MQM.
PPP has given its ticket to Baloch’s son Yousuf Murtaza Baloch, while Jan Sher Junejo is contesting on PTI’s ticket. Former MNA Sajid Ahmed is MQM’s candidate for the by-election.
According to the ECP, a total of 145,627 voters have been registered in the constituency. At least 108 polling stations have been set up. Thirty-six polling stations have been declared “sensitive”, while 33 “highly sensitive”.
Sanghar’s PS-43
Sanghar’s PS-43 seat fell vacant when PPP MPA Jam Madad Ali passed away because of Covid-19 on November 13, 2020. Ali won the seat after receiving 44,750 votes, while GDA’s Jam Zulfiqar Ali Khan came in second with 28,945 votes.
The main contenders for the by-election are PPP’s Nawabzada Jam Shabbir Ali Khan and PTI’s Mushtaq Junejo.
Shabbir Ali Khan is defending his father’s seat against a new entrant, who also has the support of GDA’s Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi and PML-F.
The electoral body has set up 132 polling stations for the constituency’s 157,200 registered voters. Thirty-seven stations have been declared “sensitive”. At least 1,700 policemen and law enforcement officers have been deployed for security.
Pishin PB-20
The Pishin’s PB-20 seat fell vacant when MPA Syed Fazal Agha, former Balochistan governor and former deputy chairman of Senate, died on May 20, 2020.
A total of 27 people are contesting the by-election. A tough competition is expected between the ruling BAP’s Asmatullah Tareen, ANP’s Syed Abdul Bari Agha, and JUI-F’s Syed Azizullah.
Syed Jalil Ahmed of the Jamiat Nazriati, Rozi Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami, and Syed Mohammad of Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party are also contesting.
As many as 99,849 voters have been registered, including 58,126 male voters and 41,723 female voters.
