A tight contest is expected in by-elections for Punjab Assembly constituency PP-196 Multan today (Thursday).
The seat was vacated by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) former Minister for Prisons Chaudhry Abdul Waheed Arain after he was disqualified by an election tribunal for having two CNICs.
As many as 14 candidates are in the field including four parties’ nominees while 10 others are independent candidates.
Rana Mahmoodul Hassan would contest the by-poll from PML-N, Rana Abdul Jabbar from PTI, Hussain Arain from PPP and Habib Ahmad Ansari from APML.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had finalised arrangements to hold the by-elections.
Officials said that 133 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, out of which 41 were declared ‘sensitive’.
According to ECP Multan officials, there are 176,315 registered voters in PP-196 including 96,121 male and 80,194 female voters.
The officials said election material had been distributed among presiding officers.
The district police have finalised security plan for the by-election. As per the plan, 3,701 police officials including four SPs and 11 DSPs would be deputed at polling stations to avoid any untoward incident.
Police have also set up a control room at CPO office where DSP would monitor the situation.
Authorities have announced a public holiday in Multan district on the account of by-elections.