All is set to hold bye-elections on two National Assembly's seats of Punjab and seven Provincial Assembly's seats (six in Punjab and one in Sindh) on Tuesday. The polling would start at 8am and continue till 5pm, as The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised all necessary arrangements to hold the bye-polls in a free and fair manner. Election material had been dispatched to the polling stations while election staff has also been deputed, sources in ECP said.

The ECP has decided to deploy rangers in the said bye-elections in Punjab. The rangers would remain deployed till election results were finalised and dispatched to quarters concerned. The ballot boxes as well as election results would be dispatched to the offices of returning officers concerned under the supervision of rangers, sources said.

In Punjab, the bye-elections are being held in the constituencies NA-107 Gujrat-IV, NA-162 Sahiwal-III, PP-26 Jhelum-III, PP-92 Gujranwala-II, PP-122 Sialkot-II, PP-129 Sialkot, PP-133 Narowal and PP-226 Sahiwal. In Sindh, election on one seat for Provincial Assembly of Sindh PS-21 Naushero Feroz-III is being held today. ECP considers these by-polls as a test case ahead of general elections in the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012