Candidates violate ECP rules in NA 151 election

MULTAN: Voters have started casting their votes in the by-election of NA 151 Multan constituency where candidates are openly violating the code of conduct set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to sources, it is for the first time in the electoral history of the country that the ECP had decided to provide transport to voters in the by-election for the NA 151 in the light of June 8th decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The ECP had directed the District Election Commission Multan to provide transport to the voters during the by-election today, however, candidates are violating the ECP’s orders and providing transport to the voters to bring them to the polling stations.

Despite the ban, the candidates have also set up camps near the polling stations.

Polling was also halted after a fight broke out between two groups of women at station 231.

It is pertinent to mention that NA 151 seat fell vacant after the disqualification of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani by the Supreme Court on contempt of court charges.

Total ten candidates are contesting in the NA 151 by-polls including Yusuf raza Gilani’s son Abdul Qadir Gilani who is contesting on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and independent candidate Shaukat Hayat Boson.

The ECP said that 245 polling stations for 308,871 voters have been set up across Multan constituency out of which 64 have been declared sensitive while public holiday has also been declared in the backdrop of by-election.