LB election fervor intensifies, police crackdown on exhibition of ammo
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also assembled itself for the occasion.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Local Body elections’ fervor kept intensifying on Thursday as Punjab and Sindh prepared itself for the upcoming event to be held after two days. The election campaigns will be closed at midnight Thursday. Police have started a crackdown against all individuals involved in the exhibition of ammunition. In Faisalabad, vehicles were being bought and routed for the delivery of electotion gear to the polling stations.
According to the details, police in Lahore started action against display of armaments. 18 Sub-Machine Guns (SMG), 40 pump action shotguns, 16 rifles, 4 revolvers and 70 pistols have been confiscated by the police so far.
The electoral administration in Faisalabad was seen repeating the same procedures it does in prior elections with last ditch efforts to get hold of any conveyance for the transportation of its election equipment and officials to the polling stations. 500 vehicles were parked in Police Line and stations. Transporters and drivers looked all set to enjoy the official hospitality and privileges.
Polling time for the LB election has been extended by one hour while instructions have been issued that all voters must bring their respective National Identity Cards (NIC) at the time of polling. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also assembled itself for the occasion.
Opposition parties in Punjab look steadfast on their demand for the deployment of army during LB polls. An emergency meeting was called by PTI in Lahore to formulate strategy on local body elections. It was decided in the meeting that Army’s deployment in local body elections is inevitable as state machinery including Punjab Police and provincial government will interfere in the proceedings.
Also read: Opposition parties demand army deployment at polls
More than 45 million ballot papers have been printed for the first phase of LB election. Approximately 47.3 million ballot papers have been printed in which 35.740 million papers are for Punjab and more than 11.5 million for Sindh. Ballot papers have also been dispatched to the returning officers (ROs) and will be handed over to the relevant staff at polling stations on October 30.
Also read: 45 million ballot papers printed for first phase of LB polls
