Rangers will stay at polling stations till 5pm: Rangers DG Muhammad Saeed

NEWS DESK: Rangers Director-General Major General Muhammad Saeed reached Chanesar Goth and assured that Rangers personnel will remain at polling stations in PS-114 constituency until polling ends. Polling is scheduled to end by 5pm.

He spoke to the media after visiting the polling station in Chanesar Goth, where clashes took place. “Every voter, candidate and agent must be searched,” he said, urging everyone to register complaints pertaining to rigging or election process.

He stressed that the overall situation was under control as clashes were reported from just one out of the 92 polling stations. “Only two people were arrested from the constituency, one of whom had a 9mm pistol on him,” he said.

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.