The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set up a control room as local government (LG) by-elections are being held in 16 districts of Sindh today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.  

Besides monitoring voting, the control room will also address the complaints of the candidates.

Similarly, polling is also taking place in five districts of Karachi.

The polling has started at 8.00 am and will continue until 5.00 pm without any break.

At least 121 polling stations have been set up in the metropolis for the purpose.

The polling is being held for 10 seats of chairmen and vice chairmen, including ward members.

People are voting for seats of chairmen in District South, Malir and Kemari of the provincial capital.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab and Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Obaidullah Shah Noorul Islam are facing each other in UC-13 Saddar Town.

Kashmore by-election

Extremely tough competition is expected between Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ramzan Mazari and Sindh United Party’s (SUP) Allah Dino Kalwarr in Union Council (UC) Masowala of district Kashmore.

Total number of voters in the constituency are 13, 184, of whom 6, 249 are females.

Out of 10 polling stations set up in the constituency, six are for both males and females, two exclusively for men while two others are exclusively for women.

Contingents of police personnel are providing security at these stations.

The seat had fallen vacant on account of the resignation of Sardar Daud Jan Mazari.

Shikarpur by-election

Tough competition is expected between PPP, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidates for the seat of councilor in Shikarpur.

As many as 2,225 people will cast their votes in Union Council 7’s Ward-III.

Several polling stations have been declared extremely sensitive.  

A control room has been set up inside the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office to ensure that no untoward incident take place.

Ghotki by-election

JUI-F’s Barkat Bhutto and the PPP’s Bashir Bhutto are vying for the seat of general councilor in Ward-II of the UC Qadirpur in Ghotki.

Three polling stations have been set up in the area while the total number of voters are 3, 500.

Sukkur by-elections

As many as 12 local bodies’ (LB) seats were initially up for grabs in Sukkur division.

However, candidates on six seats were elected unopposed, while voting is underway for the remaining six seats.

Of those who were elected unopposed, five belonged to the PPP while one was an independent candidate.  

Khairpur by-election

PPP, JI and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidates are competing for two municipal committees (MC), one town committee and a district council seat in Khairpur.

Tough contest is likely between PPP’s Noman Raza and GDA’s Asif Raza for a MC seat.

Reporters: Zubair Ahmad, Abdul Jabbar Abro, Mir Zafarullah, Imdad Buzdar, Waqar Mangi and others