The polling time has ended during the by-election contest in NA-148 Multan where a tough contest is expected between PPP’s Ali Qasim Gilani and the PTI-backed Barrister Taimoor Altaf Malik, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The voting that started at 8:00am in the morning continued till 5pm without any break and now the voters who have entered in the polling stations will be able to cast their votes.
PPP’s Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, who had defeated the same PTI-backed candidate in the general elections, vacated the seat after he was elected as the Senate chairman.
Others vying for the National Assembly seat are Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Engineer Atif Imran and TLP’s Azhar Sindhela.
Of total 444231 voters in the constituency, 233624 are males and 210607 females, while the number of polling stations stands at 275; 72 for men and an equal number for women. In all, 933 polling booths have been set up.
On the other hand, strict security arrangements have been put in place as the law-enforcement agencies’ personnel are on a high alert to ensure that the polling remains peaceful.
Barrister Taimoor hopes election will be fair
Talking to the media, PTI-backed candidate Barrister Taimoor hoped that this time there would be no rigging. “Truth will triumph today, and the people will today avenge the rigging done in the February 8 elections,” he said.
He said he would accept the result if there was no difference between Form 45 and Form 47.
Taimoor said he was not in favour of dynastic politics. “New people should join politics,” he said, adding, “If I win today, I will focus on resolving the issues of the people of my constituency. I will also work to ensure that headway is made on the creation of South Punjab.”
Reporter: Junaid Anwar