All 92 polling stations declared sensitive as tension grips Chanesar Goth

NEWS DESK: The situation in Chanesar Goth became tense as the polling agent of independent candidate Mehmood Khan alleged that he was attacked by the brother of PPP candidate Saeed Ghani. A number of clashes also erupted in different parts of the PS-114 constituency.

Workers of the PPP clashed with Mehmood Khan. As a result, an extra contingent of Rangers was summoned to bring the situation under control. Female personnel and senior Rangers officials also reached polling stations No 10 and 11. Polling process was halted momentarily and PTI leader Haleem Adil Shaikh and Najmi Alam were stopped by Rangers from entering the polling station. Polling was resumed after tension was eased in the area.

Shortly after the clashes, all 92 polling stations in the Mehmoodabad-based constituency were declared sensitive. As many as 1,200 policemen have been deployed on security duty across the PS-114 constituency along with 2,000 Rangers personnel.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani, who is contesting the by-polls, claimed he was stopped from casting his vote. "Such tactics are being employed to scare away our voters," he alleged. He added that the polling staff is facing pressure from MQM.

Meanwhile, PPP and MQM workers exchanged heated words and slogans against each other in different parts of the constituency.

Polling began Sunday morning. The seat fell vacant after the election of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader Irfanullah Marwat was declared void. In May 2013 general elections, Marwat had won the elections but his victory was declared void by the election tribunal in July 2014. On May 11, the Supreme Court dismissed Marwat’s appeal challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, paving the way for the by-polls.

As many as 27 candidates, including Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Senator Saeed Ghani, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Muhammad Najeeb Haroon and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan’s Kamran Tessori are contesting the by-elections.