Quetta:Election Commission, Balochistan has issued the schedule for by election of PB-26 Quetta-III and also the schedule for election on Senate’s vacant slot.
Addressing a news conference, Provincial Election Commissioner Asrar Khan said that by-election of PB-26 Quetta-III would be held on 31st December and all preparation for the by election have been completed. Polling for by election will begin at 8am which will continue without any interval till 5 pm.
“18 candidates are contesting the election. There are total 57 thousand 6 hundred and 75 registered votes in the said constituency. 49 Polling stations have been set up, with 17 Polling Booth. 28 Polling stations are for male 19 for female while 2 polling stations would be used jointly”, said Election Commissioner, adding that 393 polling staff wouldperform duty during election.
Among them 49 Presiding Officers, 172 Assistant Presiding Officers and 172 Polling officers are included. He said that all the polling stations in the constituency have been declared very sensitive.He said that on the day of by election, security would be tightened by deploying security personnel in as well as out of polling stations, adding that CCTV cameras would also be installed in the polling stations.
He said that Chief Secretary Balochistan had been requested for safe transportation of election materials while special arrangements for disabled persons would also be ensured. ElectionCommissioner, Balochistan said that by election of PB-26 was being conducted on the directives of the honourable Court as the court had declared MPA Ahmed Ali Kohzad’s election null and void on the ground that he was an Afghan national. In reply to a question, Election Commissioner, Balochistan said that owing to load of work, the issue of form 45 had arisen, but it would not happen again during by election. He appealed to the voter to cast their precious vote on the day of election so that democratic process may continue.
Election Commissioner further said that election of senate seat, which became vacant due to the demise of late Senator Sardar Azam Musakhail of PushtoonKhwa Milli Awami Party, would be held on 14 January, 2019 at Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Public notice would be on 24th December while nomination forms for senate election would be issued from 26 December. He himself would be the Election Commissioner for Senate Election, said the Election Commissioner, Balochistan.