LAHORE – More than 50 polling stations in the NA-122 by-elections are likely to face violent clashes on the day of the vote, security agency officials told The Nation today.

They said that 52 polling stations out of 283 have been declared sensitive where extra-ordinary measures are necessary to avoid bloodshed between PTI and PML-N supporters.

The agencies are alarmed about the bad blood between the two parties and fear there will be a further outbreak of the violence which has claimed two lives in the last one year.

A PTI worker Haq Nawaz was killed in December 2014 allegedly by the PML-N activists in Faisalabad during violent clashes when Imran Khan gave call for shutting down the city to support traders demand to cut electricity load shedding.

Another Imran worker Abdul Ghaffar Gujjar, who was his candidate for local bodies’ polls in Union Council-124, was allegedly killed by PML-N local leaders during the election drive in Garhi Shahu area of Lahore last month.

However, the PML-N challenged the PTI allegation and claimed that Gujjar was their worker and participating in ruling party’s public meetings in NA-122. The Union Council falls in the limits of PP-147, which is part of NA-122. On the complaint of victim’s brother, the Garhi Shahu police registered a murder case against 11 suspects including five nominated – Farrukh Dogar, Aslam Dogar, Malik Bashir, Zafran and Asad.

Security agency officials said the “Sensitive” polling stations that fall under “Category A” indicates strong likelihood of violent election clashes on the pattern of Ghaffar Gujjar’s incident or worst. The sensitive polling stations mostly fall in PP-148 and few in PP-147 part of NA-122.

The remaining 231 polling stations falls in “Category B” which indicates the vote process could be smooth but might face minor clashes in some areas. Interestingly no polling station falls under “Category C” which means the polling process would not face any threat.

The assessments to ascertain the possibilities of clashes were prepared through surveys of the constituency by the security agency’s field officers.

Meanwhile, certain threat assessments also hint at the possibilities of terrorist actions on polling day, October 11. Militants could stage suicide attacks or other means to spread terror. Search operations are already underway to get nab suspects.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said that building to building security wall be provided during elections and video recording will be made through CCTV cameras.