Lahore (September 17, 2017): Election Commission of Pakistan has finalized all arrangements to hold by-election in NA-120 Lahore in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner on Sunday.
Forty-four candidates, including 32 independent and 12 from different political parties, are taking part in the bye-election.
Begum Kulsoom Nawaz from Pakistan Muslim League (N), Faisal Mir from Pakistan People’s Party and Dr. Yasmeen Rashid from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are the main candidates contesting the election.
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The ECP said that the constituency has a total of 3,21,786 registered voters, out of which 1,79,642 are male while 1,42,144 are female voters.
Two hundred and twenty polling stations, including 103 for male, 98 for female and 19 combined, have been set up for bye-election.
Two hundred and twenty Presiding Officer, 573 Assistant Presiding Officers and 573 Polling Officers would discharge their duties on the polling day.
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The election commission has also set up seven monitoring teams with 20 officials from Islamabad and the four provinces to maintain the code of conduct and monitor biometric machines.
The Election Commission will also use 100 biometric voting machines on trial basis in 39 polling stations of the constituency.
The decision of using the machines will ensure transparency in the election process while the commission would also examine problems in this system.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission, Punjab has issued the list of twenty-nine thousand six hundred and seven voters of the constituency with missing thumb impressions in the civil registry database of the NADRA, following the Lahore High Court’s order.
The list has been put on display in the office of Returning Officer of NA-120, ECP Punjab office and office of the District Election Commissioner officer.
All necessary administrative and security arrangements have been finalized to hold free, fair and impartial by-election in the constituency.
A tough contest is expected between PTI candidate Yasmin Rashid and Nawaz’s wife and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s Kulsoom Nawaz today. According to the returning officer, there are 44 contestants in total for the by-poll.
In light of the former first lady’s ongoing medical treatment in London, her daughter Maryam spearheaded the campaign in the constituency.
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The transfer of required material to the polling stations began on Saturday as the preparations for Lahore’s NA-120 by-elections got into full swing.
The ballot papers were sent to polling stations under the supervision of army.
Army personnel have been given responsibility to guard polling stations throughout Saturday night.
Strictest security measures are in place in the Election Commission Punjab. No one apart from presiding officers are allowed inside the building.
The ECP earlier said a total of 350,000 ballot papers were printed for the by-poll, where 324,786 voters are registered to cast their vote.
All 220 polling stations were declared sensitive to avoid any untoward incident, police sources had revealed.
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On the last day of the campaign Friday, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and leader of PML-N Maryam Nawaz stormed into the different parts of the constituency and tried to voters woo for votes for PML-N candidate and her ailing mother Kalsoom Nawaz , who is under treatment in London.
She led supporters rally which passed through various areas of the constituency. She was met with warm welcome and shower of rose petals. Emotional supporters chanted slogans in favour of her and Nawaz Sharif—Wazir-e-Azam Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing to women workers’ convention she said that revenge was taken in the name of accountability while referring to Supreme Court’s disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif.
During her speech, she said that the love of the people is an asset for life and claimed that the ‘lion would roar’ in NA-120 on September 17.
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She reiterated her earlier claims that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified because he did not take income from his son.
Maryam Nawaz has said that the people should vote for the ‘lion’ if they do not approve of revenge in guise of accountability.
“Do you accept this unjust verdict?” She asked the NA-120 voters, adding “If you are against the verdict then vote for lion on September 17.”
A day ago, PTI Chairman Imran Khan leading a procession towards Datta Darbar, said PTI will emerge victorious on Sunday in the NA-120 by-polls.
“The 30-year reign of corruption of the Sharif family will come to an end on Sunday and we will win the match.”
He added the nation will defeat the corruption mafia and a “new Lahore would emerge after Sunday”.
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The PTI chairman is leading a rally from Charing Cross at Mall Road to Data Darbar. Scores of party workers and supporters are accompanying the party chairman.
Earlier, Khan criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz for “disrespecting the judiciary on a daily basis”.
Security Plan Finalized: The security plan for the battle for NA-120 by election has been released that termed the all polling stations of the constituency sensitive.
The security forces and police have been finalized the security plan for the NA-120 by poll which will be held on September 17.
According to plan declaring all polling stations sensitive, police has divided them in various zones as 23 zones and 11 sectors will have to an incharge to deal security issues. 4000 police personnel will be deployed for the security of the polling stations accompanied with Dolphin and Pero Force personnel for the patrolling.
The strict action will be taken for the violation of code of conduct set by the ECP and exhibition of armed and firework in the area.
EC Serves Notice to PML, PTI Leaders for Violation of Code of Conduct
Lahore (September 15, 2017): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday served notices to leaders of the ruling PML-N and PTI for leading political campaigns by-polls of NA-120 constituency, terming it a violation of the code of conduct.
The notices were served to the State Minister of Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry, Senator Pervez Rasheed, MNAs Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Maiza Hameed and Rukhsana Kokab, and MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar for PML-N candidate Kulsoom Nawaz in violation of the code.
PTI lawmakers Mehmood Rasheed and Sadia Sohail Rana were also served notices by the ECP.
According to the ECP’s code of conduct, members of the national and provincial assemblies are barred from engaging in political activities in the NA-120 constituency ahead of the by-poll.
“The ECP has prohibited members of the national assembly from campaigning for the by-election,” the notifications read.
The commission asked all the lawmakers to appear before the commission on September 20.
The ECP also summoned the Punjab chief secretary to appear before it on September 20 for a hearing into the violation of the code of conduct.
The ECP also allotted election symbols to all the 44 candidates of NA-120.
Election Scheme: EC puts the total number of registered voters in NA-120 at 321,786 that comprise 179,642 male and 142,144 female voters. EC also says that a total of 220 polling stations will be set up for the by-election.
Of the total 220 polling stations 103 will be for male while 98 will be for women. The remaining 19 polling stations will facilitate both men and women voters.
A total of 573 polling booths will be established of which 312 will accommodate male while the remaining 261 will facilitate women voters.
The NA-120 seat fell vacant following the disqualification of Nawaz as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28. In the 2013 General Elections, Nawaz had won the seat by a substantial margin, defeating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Yasmin Rashid, who will be contesting for the seat this time around too.
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NA-120: EC Serves Notice to PTI, N Leaders for Violation CoC
