Peshawar - Long queues of voters were witnessed in almost all polling stations of Peshawar City where tough electoral battle was expected among mainstream political parties for the tehsil mayor seat.
The voters thronged to polling stations at Gulbahar, Hashtnagri, Nanakpura, Faqirabad, Karimpura, Lateefabad, Pachagai, Firdus, Kakshall and Sheikh Abad to cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.
Great rush of voters, especially youth, wae witnessed in polling stations in these areas where tough election contest was expected among PTI, ANP, PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F candidates for Peshawar Mayor seat.
KP Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash polled his vote in his respective polling station.
The supporters of candidates established private booths for guidance of voters.
The young voters were guided about votes casting procedures as they have to poll votes for tehsils mayor or chairman, general councilors, minorities, farmers/labour, youth and women seats of the village and neighbourhood councils. Police was deployed outside polling stations for security of voters.
Voting remained continued till 5pm without any break. However, voters inside polling station’s premises were allowed to cast votes after expiry of the scheduled time.
SACM KP visits police control room during LG polls
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Sunday paid a surprise visit to Central Control Room of Police to keep a check on law and order situation in the province.
Barrister Saif was briefed about the ways and means of checking adopted by police to keep a vigilant eye on any untoward incident during the day of local government elections.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shehzad Khan Bangash, Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari and Provincial Secretary Home Khushal Khan were also present on the occasion.
Talking to media persons, Barrister Saif said that best security arrangements have been made by the police. The main control room of police was in direct contact with the personnel stationed outside the polling stations.
He said a total of 79,479 police personnel have been deployed and 9,223 polling stations have been set up in 17 districts. 7,725 buildings are in use for polling stations, he added.
He said that more personnel deployed at sensitive polling stations. FC and other law enforcement agencies were also cooperating for security to control the law and order situation.
Referring to a tragic incident that took place in D I Khan, Barrister Saif said the incident seems to be a source of personal resentment.
Barrister Saif said that political points were scored by one or two political parties on the Gor Gathri Peshawar incident. The whole situation would come to light after investigation.
Speaking on the occasion, IGP Muazzam Jah Ansari said that police had completed their preparations before the election. The IGP said that FIR has been lodged of the Gor Gathri incident and impartial investigation into the incident has been started.
Personnel of Ababeel Force were also deployed on election security.