RAHIM YAR KHAN/SIALKOT
The PPP South Punjab president has said that the total budget of Punjab province is being spent only in Lahore while a sum of just Rs20 million was given for NA-195 constituency of his son MNA Mustafa Mehmood in the last two and half years by the government.
Syed Ahmed Mehmood in a press conference said, “The throne of Lahore always deprived his area of development. The people of Rahim Yar Khan on the one side see Rs80 billion worth Lahore Metro Bus and on the other side they see the deprivation of their area where even drinkable water is not available and now they will make their decision in the favour of PPP.”
He added that there were total 139 union councils in the district and the PPP had issued 112 tickets to its candidates while the candidates of chairman and vice chairman of PPP in five union councils had been elected unopposed. It was an example in the N League government. He alleged that the ruling party MNAs and MPAs were badly violating the code of conduct and the Election Commission should take notice of the same. He said that polling stations were being changed and ruling class had full control over the police stations to influence the local bodies elections. The candidates of PPP will try to counter every practice of rigging in these elections, he said.
To a question, Mehmood said that he would restore the original shape of Jinnah Hall which was burnt in 2007 on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Former MNA Javed Iqbal, MNA Mustafa Mehmood and former MPA Javed Akber Dhilon were also present.
However, the candidates of PML-N, PPP and PTI as well as the independents are leaving no stone unturned to woo their voters and supporters in Sialkot district. The political hustle and bustle is increasing day by day, as the voters and supporters of all the candidates are often found dancing and performing “Bhangraas” on the louder drums beats here.
All the city roads, streets, chowks , important public places and even the boundary walls of the houses and other properties have been covered political parties’ flags, banners, placards, posters and stickers carrying the photos the leaders of the political parties and their candidates.
However, a tight contest is expected between the PML-N and the PTI that are claiming to give a hard time to each other in the LB polls in Sialkot.
As many as 2,011,912 voters including 1,165,351 males and 846,561 females will cast their votes in the LB polls being held for 124 rural union councils of Zila Council Sialkot, 24 urban union councils of Municipal Corporation Sialkot, 30 urban wards of Municipal Committee Daska, 20 urban wards of Municipal Committee Sambrial and 26 urban wards of Municipal Committee Pasrur.
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will establish 1,544 polling stations including 331 polling stations for male voters, 331 polling stations for female voters and 882 combined polling stations in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils. ECP will also establish 4,333 polling booths including 2,446 booths for male voters and 1,887 for female voters.

It will depute 1,544 presiding officers, 8,310 assistant presiding officers, 4,333 polling officers and 331 Naib Qasids to hold polls in Sialkot district. In Sialkot city, 77 candidates are in the race for the slots of chairmanship and vice chairman in all the 24 urban union councils of Municipal Corporation Sialkot as 471 candidates are contesting for the 144 seats of general councillors in Sialkot city.
In Zila Council Sialkot, 575 candidates are in the race for the slots of chairman and vice chairman in all the 124 rural union councils of Zila Council Sialkot, while 2,868 candidates are contesting for the seats of general councillors
In Daska city, there are 124 candidates in the race for the seats of general councillors in all the 30 urban wards. In Sambrial city, total 101 candidates are contesting the LB polls for the seats of general councillors. In Pasrur city, 114 candidates are fighting for the general councillors’ seats in all the 26 urban wards.
As many as 5000 police personnel, 30 DSPs and 20 SPs would be deputed at the polling stations to ensure the free, fair and peaceful polling.