Pakistan Bye-Elections: Polling in Two Constituencies Today
By Raza Mumtaz - Pakistan Times Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: A new and significant era for the democratic rule in Pakistan sets in motion today, Wednesday placing a celebrated banker-turned politician, Shaukat Aziz into an exceptional political test, the first-ever in his longed career to contest a set of heavy-weights, all from the opposition parties — via the set egalitarian system of bye-polls in two constituencies, one in Punjab and the other in deserts of Sindh province.

The two seats were unilaterally vacated by a lady member of the National Assembly in Attock in the Punjab and the second by a man from remote area of Tharparker in Sindh, [both from the ruling faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, PML] explicitly to pave a way vistas for Shaukat, who if wins, would be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan with his manifesto, which vows is aimed at ameliorating the lot of the common man and make to nation strong and vibrant through his unique expertise in the arena of economy to, what he contemplates as making Pakistan affluent and self-reliant, free from any type aid or assistance from any-where beyond oceanic by making best possible use of its own resources at a swift pace.

Shaukat Aziz

At present, Shaukat Aziz is the member of the Upper House of the Parliament as a Senator and his holding the portfolio of Finance Minister almost ever since the time, when President General Pervez Musharraf took over the reigns of power in 1999.

Shaukat Aziz was Finance Minister even during the period, when Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was the Prime Minister and holds the same status in the federal cabinet, presently being led by Ch. Shuja’at Hussain.

The ruling party has designated Shaukat as the next Prime Minister. Yet he is ought to win a seat in the Lower House, the National Assembly as an MNA to take-over the apex executive slot as the new Premier of Pakistan.

Since, the National Assembly was packed to its’ constitutional strength, two MNAs belonging to the party-in-power unilaterally resigned, vacating their seats for Shaukat Aziz to contest through the process of bye-election, for which the Election Commission has made foolproof arrangements, as provided and enunciated by the Constitution of Pakistan.

Bye-polls in both the constituencies take place today, Wednesday August-18.

Attock

The Election Commission of Pakistan has set up 253 polling stations for the bye-elections in NA-59 Attock-III, where 238469 voters would exercise their right of franchise.

The polling staff has also been detailed and election material dispatched to the polling stations.

As per details out of 253 polling stations 174 will be combined polling stations while 40 polling stations for male and 39 for female voters. 253 presiding officers, 1104 Asstt Presiding Officers and 552 polling officers would be on duty to ensure free, fair and impartial election.

A total of seven candidates are in the field to contest the bye-election.

The Contestants

Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz is contesting the bye-elections on the ticket of PML with election symbol bicycle, Dr. Sikandar Hayat on the ticket of PPP with election symbol Arrow, on the ticket of communist Party of Pakistan Engineer Jamil Ahmed with the election symbol Lock, and four independent candidates Chaudhary Ishtiaq Ahmed Minhas, election symbol Fan; Dr. Raja Nathanial Gill election symbol car; Ghulam Abbas Election symbol Coat; Nawab Dr. Amber Shehzada election symbol Tanga.

On the other hand a spokesman of police told the media that all steps have been taken to maintain law and order in the area and about four thousand police troops have been deployed.

The constituency has 25 union councils out of these 14 union councils are in Fatehjang, 08 in Hassanabdal and 03 in Tehsil Attock.

In the election 2002 the turn out was 55.11%.

Tharparkar

'Pakistan Times' special correspondent reports from Mithi in Sindh that the election fever in Tharparkar district has reached on its peak and 251579 voters of the National Assembly constituency, NA-229 Tharparkar-I are preparing their mind to exercise their right of franchise in the bye-election, scheduled to be held today, Wednesday.

The election campaigns of the contesting candidates of the bye-election have already been concluded at the night of August 15 and now the candidates and their supporters have been engaged to finalize the arrangements of acquiring vehicles for pick and drop of the voters from their houses to polling stations, preparing voters slips, appointing polling agents and arranging meal for them to be served on the polling day.

Whereas Shaukat Aziz is contesting the bye-election on PML ticket, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Mallani is in the field on behalf of PPPP. Engineer Gianchan is also in the field as supporting candidate of Dr. Mahesh Kumar.

The Election Commission has set up 220 Polling Stations for 138975 male and 112604 female voters of the constituency.

A total of 220 Presiding Officers, 591 Assistant Presiding Officers and 591
Polling Officers would conduct the polling process on polling today, August-18.

Strict Security

Meanwhile, the district administration has beefed up security in order to maintain law and order during the polling for bye-election on NA-229 Tharparkar-I.

Police and Rangers personnel have also been engaged in patrolling in Mithi and Diplo Talukas to ensure peace during the polling process.

The district administration has already declared 47 out of 220 polling stations sensitive and decided to further beef up security for smooth conduct of polling process.

At the outer check posts, the personnel of Rangers and Police have been deployed for the snap checking of the vehicles. However, the people, coming to Mithi are not suffering any inconvenience because of gentle behaviour of the personnel.

Holiday in Tharparkar

The Sindh government has declared today, Wednesday August-18 as holiday in the district of Tharparkar.

An official announcement said Tuesday, the decision has been taken to facilitate people to take part in bye-election on NA-229, Tharparkar-I.●