PESHAWAR
A tough competition is likely among the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Awami National Party candidates in the by-election on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly constituency PK-7 Swat-VI, scheduled to be held on Sunday (today).
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued the list of candidates and election symbols.
According to the ECP, four candidates including Hussain Ahmad Khan of ANP, Fazal Maula of PTI, Daulat Khan of Tehreek-e-Inqilab Political Movement and Mohammad Ali Shah and independent candidate, are in the running from the constituency.
Political observers and local people say that there are four candidates in the running for the seat, but the real contest is between PTI and ANP candidates.
The seat fell vacant due to the death of ANP’s Waqar Ahmad Khan and later on the ECP announced by poll on 26 June 2022.
In the last election, ANP candidate Waqar Ahmad won the KP Assembly Constituency PK-7 Swat-VI by securing 13,997 votes.
The PTI candidate Fazal Maula remained second by getting 13,663 votes.
According to details shared by the provincial election commission office, there are a total of 183,308 registered voters including male 102,088 and female 81220 in PK-7 Swat VI.
The ECP has set total 124 polling stations and 308 polling booths for election in the constituency.
The position of ruling PTI candidate might be stronger this time but he is facing tough opposition from ANP, which has now gained the support of most PTI disgruntled workers.
Besides, JUI-F and PML-N have also announced their support for ANP candidates in the bye election at PK-7.
A statement issued by the provincial election commission office on Saturday said that all necessary preparations including the security arrangements have been made and the presiding officers were handed over election materials and sent to their respective polling stations.
The Election Commissioner KP Muhammad Farid Afridi on Saturday held a review meeting at the Swat regional office and discussed overall preparation about the by-election the district.
Later on, the Provincial Election Commissioner paid a visit to the Election Materials Distribution Center.
He urged that the polling staff should consider their responsibilities as a national duty and make the election process as transparent and impartial as possible.
Polling would start at 8 am and would continue till 5 pm without any break.
However, voters in the polling station premises will be allowed to cast their votes after 5 p.m. Muhammad Farid Afridi appealed to the voters of the constituency especially women voters to participate in the election process without any fear, adding that security arrangements have been made so that they can leave their homes and go to the polling stations tomorrow (today) to perform their national duty without any danger.
Control rooms have been set up in the office of Regional Election Commissioner Swat, Deputy Commissioner Swat Police Office and Provincial Election Commissioner, he added.
