3,551 polling stations declared highly sensitive; 8,300 declared sensitive; media asked not to disseminate material to affect public opinion against any candidate or party
The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday released a statement announcing the number of highly sensitive, sensitive and normal polling stations for first phase of the local government elections in Punjab.
As per details, there are 16,266 polling stations in Punjab’s twelve districts where elections are going to be held in the first phase. As many as 3,551 polling stations have been declared high sensitive. A total of 8,300 have been declared sensitive and 4,441 polling stations are shown to be normal.
In Lahore, there are a total of 3,269 polling stations out of which 839 have been declared highly sensitive while 2,430 have been declared sensitive. There are no “normal polling stations” in the city.
In Faisalabad, there are 3,915 polling stations out of which 1,029 have been declared highly sensitive while 2,877 have been declared sensitive. There are only 9 normal polling stations in Faisalabad district.
In Gujrat, out of a total of 1,250 polling stations 182 have been declared highly sensitive, while 1,068 polling stations have been declared as normal polling stations.
Chakwal has a total of 823 polling stations with 265 and 558 declared as highly sensitive and sensitive respectively, while there are no normal polling stations in the district.
In Bhakkar, there are 591 polling stations with 53 falling in highly sensitive and 160 in sensitive category. The rest, 378, polling stations have been put in normal category.
Nankana Sahib has a total of 607 polling stations out of which 125 fall in highly sensitive and 131 in sensitive categories. The number of polling stations in the normal category is 351.
In Kasur, out of a total of 1,250 polling stations, ECP has declared 265 and 224 as highly sensitive and sensitive respectively, while 761 polling stations were declared normal.
Pakpattan district has 683 polling stations with 250 in highly sensitive, none in sensitive and 433 polling stations in the normal category.
Okara district has 1,115 polling stations with 99 falling in highly sensitive; 1,015 in sensitive and only one polling station declared as normal.
Lodhran district contains 576 polling stations, out of which 121 fall in highly sensitive and 455 in normal categories.
In Vehari, a total 1,085 polling stations have been established; with 274 declared highly sensitive; 811 declared sensitive and none in the normal category.
In Bahawalnagar, out of a total of 1,102 polling stations, 49 have been declared highly sensitive, 94 sensitive while 959 have been declared normal.
Separately, the ECP issued Code of Conduct for the Media.
ECP’s statement says that neither any radio nor television channel shall broadcast or telecast nor any print media shall publish anything that adversely affects the public opinion against a particular party or candidate.
The print and electronic media have been asked to refrain from disseminating information about any political party or candidate which is not supported by cogent evidence.
“Due care shall also be exercised by them (print/electronic media) to ascertain veracity of any information or news relating to a candidate before its telecasting, broadcasting or publishing,” the Commission said.
The print and electronic media have been directed to only show election results officially issued by the presiding officers and returning officers of the Election Commission.
The directives were issued by the ECP in exercise of its powers under Article 218 (3) and Punjab Local Governments (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2013 and other power enabling it in that regard.
55,971 IN THE RUN FOR LB POLLS IN SINDH, PUNJAB:
A total of 55, 971 candidates will be contesting the local government elections in Sindh and Punjab in the first phase on Saturday.
According to sources, 40,429 candidates are in the run in Punjab and 15,542 in Sindh. Elections will be held in 12 districts in Punjab and eight in Sindh.
The districts in Sindh where the polls are being held are Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Qamber.
In all, 1,801 contestants are in the field in Sindh to become members of district councils and another 6,004 are contesting the elections to become general members of union councils.
There are 1,113 candidates vying for the seats of general members of union committees, 2,173 for the posts of members of municipal committees and 2,506 for the taluka committees.
The 12 districts in Punjab that go to polls on 31 are Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari and Bahwalnagar.
Twelve chairpersons and vice chairpersons of union councils in eight districts have been elected unopposed and 6,307 candidates for these slots in other districts are in the field.
As many as 33,794 candidates are contesting for the seats of general members in union councils, wards and municipal committees.
There are 124 women contesting for the posts of chairperson, vice chairperson and for general seats. A total of 204 non-Muslim candidates are also in the run for these slots in the 12 districts.