LG by-elections in Abbottabad today

ABBOTTABAD: All is set to hold the by-elections in the three union councils in the district today.

The election officer has handed over election material to the polling staff.

The three seats of Abbottabad district council fell vacant after the de-seating of three district councillors, including district nazim and naib nazim, under the defection clause.

District Police Officer (DPO), Abbottabad, Syed Ashfaq Anwar while exercising his powers under section 82 & 86 (1) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2017 has banned displaying/brandishing of firearms, holding of victory processions, rallies and celebrations.

Outsiders have also been barred from going near the polling stations in the union council within limits of 500 metres. Nobody is allowed to take cellphone inside the polling station.

The presence of male polling agents at the female polling stations was also banned.

The violators will be booked U/S 107,108(1) and this order would remain enforced on 17th and 18th March.

This is being done in the three union councils namely Salhad, Kehal and Bakot as pre-emptive measures to avoid any law and order situation.

In Bakot Union Council, four candidates are contesting. They include Nazir Ahmed Abbasi (sword), Muhammad Zaheer Abbasi (scale), Shaukat Arbab Abbasi (bat), Zahid Hussain (washing machine).

The total registered votes are 21,220 and 19 polling stations have been established.

In Kehal Union Council, eight candidates are in the run. They include Asad Javed Khan (bench), Altaf Hussain (bracket fan), Raja Muhammad Iqbal Turk (crane), Sardar Zakir Hussain (ice cream), Sardar Umair Anwar (washing machine), Safdar Rana (bat), Liaqat Li Khan (lantern), and Muhammad Sajid Awan (lion).

There are 13,965 registered voters and 14 polling stations were established with 37 polling booths.

In Salhad Union council, six candidates are running for the vacant seats.

They include Muhammad Shakeel (bracket fan) Dildar (bench), Raja Saeed Ahmed Khan (lantern), Muhammad Shafiq Khan Tanoli (tiger), Mufti Naeem Haider Awan (crane) and Malik Suleman Khan Jadoon (bat).

Total 18,773 voters are registered and 15 polling stations are established with 44 polling booths.

It should be noted that these three seats were vacated after the de-seating of District Nazim Sardar Sher Bahadar, Naib Nazim Shaukat Tanoli and member Nazir Abbasi.