8.579 million voters to elect candidates in 18 KPK districts on March 31

PESHAWAR, March 29: The Election Commission of Pakistan has completed all arrangements for free, transparent and peaceful holding of the second phase of local bodies election in 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 31.
Over 8.579 million registered voters would exercise their right of franchise in a free, transparent and peaceful atmosphere in these districts on Thursday, according to Provincial Election Commission.
Out of the total 8,057,974 registered voters, 4,489,771 voters are male and 3,567,703 female whom are all set to elect mayors and chairmen in 65 tehsils and candidates for different seats of 1,830 village and neighbourhood councils.
The local bodies election in the second phase are being held in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Lower and Upper Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Kurram, Orakzai, and North and South Waziristan districts.
As many as 561 candidates are in the run for 65 tehsil seats, 12,980 for general seats, 2668 for women seats, 6451 for farmers/labourers seats, 5213 for youth seats and 57 minorities seats.
Similarly, 351 candidates have been elected unopposed on general seats, 533 candidates on women seats, 233 youth seats, 50 minorities seats and 151 labourers/farmers seats.
The Election Commission has setup 6,176 polling stations including 1,246 for male, 1,164 for female and 3,766 combined for facilitation of voters. Similarly, 16,509 polling booths including 9,218 for male and 7,291 for female were also established to facilitate voters including young and female voters.
Out of these polling stations,1,646 were declared most sensitive and 2,326 sensitive where elaborate security arrangements are made.
Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the second phase of local bodies election. Carrying of arms and ammunition inside polling stations would not be allowed. The most sensitive polling stations would be monitored through CCTV cameras.
The Election Commission has arranged a series of awareness workshops with the assistance of press clubs and media to mobilize voters for LG elections. Such workshops were held at South Waziristan, Peshawar, Buner, Chitral, Malakand, Swat, Kurrum and Bajaur districts.
The election campaign would formally come to an end at mid night today (12 am) after which no candidate would be allowed to address public meetings or hold rallies.
Under supervision of Deputy Director Local Government Elections, Muhammad Nasir Khan and Assistant Director Mustafa Jalal, a control room was setup at the office of Provincial Election Commissioner Peshawar for quick resolution of election related complaints.- NNI