Vote-count underway as polling for NA 151 ends

According to sources, there is tough competition between the two candidates.The Election Commission had set up 245 polling stations and made foolproof arrangements to hold free and fair bye-elections in NA-151 constituency of Multan.The main candidates are Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani son of former prime minister who is contesting on PPP ticket and independent candidate Shaukat Hayat Bossan.Other candidates are Abdul Mateen Qureshi, Dr Aleem Chaudhry, Mehr Ghulam Shabbir Sial, Advocate Shehla Shaheen, Muhammad Husnain Khan Bosan, Muhammad Amil Yousuf Jutt, Muhammad Abbas and Nawaz Muhammad Iqbal Khan.Overall peaceful polling is in progress in the by-election in Multan but some incidents of violence have been reported at various polling stations in the rural areas.According to reports two political groups indulged in cross firing at Khairpur Bhutta polling station where polling was stopped for a while.Some workers of political party also opened fire outside Bund Bossan polling station.Mainly NA-151 consists of rural area of Multan however‚ some urban areas are also included in this constituency.Independent reports say that turn out in the rural polling stations is over thirty percent so far while in urban polling stations turn over is thin.Although Election Commission (ECP)has made arrangements to provide transport to the voters of far flung areas to reach the polling stations but some candidates are violating the rules by bringing voters from their homes.Polling will continue till 5:00pm today.