Polling underway in Balochistan LB elections

QUETTA: Polling in the local bodies elections-- the seventh in the history of Balochistan and the first on political basis is in progress all across the province, Geo News reported.

Sources said the polling started this morning at 8. 00 A.M. will continue until 5.00 P.M. without any break.

Stringent security arrangements have been made, while the day has been declared a public holiday facilitating the voters to cast their votes in large numbers.

District Councils, Union Councils and urban areas constituencies for Blaochistan local bodies elections count a total of 7,188, but out of which candidates for 2,527 constituencies have already been elected unopposed, while 513 remained vacant for want of any candidate, thus the polling today being held for 4,168 seats only, where 3.2 million registered voters will exercise their rights to vote.

Sources said that 5,718 polling stations have been set up in the province for the holding of local bodies elections of them 2,776 have been declared highly sensitive, while 1,581 sensitive.

More than 50,000 troops of the police, FC, Balochistan Constabulary and Levies force have been deployed, while 5,325 soldiers of Pakistan Army performing the duties as quick response force at the polling stations for ensuring peaceful polling in the underway elections.

Nine districts including Quetta, Qalat, Mastung, Khuzdar, Kharan, Washak, Panjgur, Gawadar and Kech have declared sensitive for security reasons.

Pillion riding, exhibition of all sorts of weapons and dark windowpanes of vehicles has also been banned for security reasons.