Polling time ends for NA-154 by-election
Siddique Baloch cast his vote in the early hours today
LODHRAN (Dunya News) - Polling time for NA-154 constituency of Lodhran has ended on Wednesday where close contest is expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Jahangir Tareen and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) Siddique Baloch.
Siddique Baloch and Jahangir Tareen cast their votes in the early hours today.
While talking to the media after casting vote, Baloch said that earlier PTI workers had attacked ruling party s supporters in the constituency. The PML-N workers responded to the assualt, however, both the sides should have avoided the clash, he added.
Baloch said that Jahangir Tareen s character is like a defaced body . PTI approached every tribunal it could and have always claimed to be the victim of rigging without exception, he added.
He said that the PTI candidate spent around Rs 50 crore within the last three days and he suspects it was a move to hijack the election. Baloch said that he was also offered money. His worker was handed over the money to give that to him, he added. Baloch said that PTI has no chance in NA-154 as he is the fifth generation of a family who has been winning there.
On the other hand, PTI leader Imran Khan has wished his member well for the by-election. He urged all PTI supporters to cast their vote to bring positive change in Lodhran.
Pakistan Army has been given the responsibility of carrying out fair and transparent polling. Polling will continue till 5:00 in the evening without any break. There are 419,182 registered voters in NA-154 who will exercise their right to vote. A total number of 303 polling stations have been set up for the purpose out of which 47 have been declared sensitive.
The notification for holding election in NA-154 was issued after Supreme Court’s October 28 verdict in which the apex ended stay on conducting of re-election in NA-154 constituency of Lodhran and lifted restriction on PML-N candidate Siddique Baloch to contest the by-election.
On August 26, election tribunal had banned Baloch from contesting elections for life over possession of fake academic credentials.
