Polling underway in PS-127 by-election in Karachi

Polling is underway for PS-127 by-election that started at 8:00am on Thursday and will continue till 5:00pm without interval.

The seat in Malir district of Karachi fell vacant after MQM lawmaker Ashfaque Mangi left his party and resigned from the assembly seat to join the Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

At least 21 candidates are contesting PS-127 by-election but a close contest is expected among MQM’s Waseem Ahmad, PPP’s Ghulam Murtaza Baloch and PTI’s Nadeem Memon.

Two people sustained injuries after unknown gunmen opened fired near the camp of a political party outside polling in Khokhrapar.

Rangers reached the spot and controlled the situation.

The injured were shifted to the hospital, rescue sources said.

Also MQM camp at Malir Jaffar Tayyar Ghazi Chowk was ransacked. MQM has alleged its opponent for the incident.

There are 207,467 registered voters in the constituency who will exercise their right to vote today.

At least 134 polling stations have been set up for the by-election out of which 67 and been declared highly sensitive while 49 and been declared sensitive.

The government of Sindh has declared September 8 as holiday in the constituency to facilitate the voters.

The Election Commission has granted the authority of Magistrate to Rangers and Presiding Officers.