ECP finalises arrangements to hold NA-IV Peshawar bye-election on 26th

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised all arrangements for holding bye-election on a vacant seat of National Assembly, NA-4 Peshawar on October 26, in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner.

According to an ECP official, 15 candidates including six from various political parties and nine independents were contesting election on the seat fell vacant due to death of former MNA Gulzar Khan of PTI in August this year. Candidates of major political parties included Nasir Khan Musazai of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Asad Gulzar Khan of People’s Party, Arbab Amir Ayub of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Khushdil Khan of Awami National Party.

He said that the constituency had total 397,904 registered voters, out of which 235,164 were male while 162,740 were female voters. He said that total 269 polling stations including 147 male, 111 female and 11 combined polling stations have been set up for bye-election. In total 837 polling booths, 492 male and 345 female had been set up by the ECP, he added.

He said that 269 presiding officer, 837 assistant presiding officers and 837 polling officers would discharge their duties on the polling day. He said that the commission would use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Peshawar by-election on trial basis in 39 polling stations.

He said that services of operators would be hired to assist the voters. He added the processing time of casting one vote through these machines would take 20 seconds. He said this new technology was being introduced in by-election to examine the performance and functioning of the machines and to record voters’ problems in using this technology.

He said that there would be no effect on the result of by-election with use of these machines as this was just a pilot project. He said that the commission would compile its report after use of these machines in Peshawar by-election and submit it to the parliament, adding that under Article 103 of new election act 2017, EVM machines would be used as pilot project.