ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis on Thursday voted in by-polls for five parliamentary and 23 provincial assembly seats after balloting in former premier Nawaz Sharif's constituency was postponed due to legal wrangling over whether he was eligible to contest.
Polling began amid tight security at 8 am local time and will continue till 5 pm. A holiday has been declared in the national and provincial assembly constituencies where by-polls are being held.
By-poll to a National Assembly constituency in Lahore, from where PML-N chief Sharif had planned to enter parliament, has been put off by the Supreme Court.
The apex court stayed polling there after the government on Wednesday filed an appeal against a Lahore High Court judgement disqualifying the two-time premier from contesting elections.
By-elections are mostly being held in constituencies that were vacated by candidates who won in more than one seat in the February 18 general election. The outcome of the by-polls will not affect the ruling coalition.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which heads the coalition, has 123 seats in the 342-member National Assembly or lower house of Parliament. Its ally PML-N has 92 seats.
Initial reports suggested the turnout so far in most constituencies was low. However, it is expected to pick up later in the day. The first unofficial results are likely to come out on early Friday.
Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that the by-elections are conducted smoothly.
"Everything is in place and elaborate measures have been taken to maintain law and order situation and ensure peaceful polling in these constituencies," Dilshad said.
"Unofficial results of respective constituencies will be announced by the returning officers," he said.
Around 27,000 polling officials have been posted in the constituencies to ensure free, fair and transparent polling.
"Like the general election of February 18, the Election Commission will ensure that the by-elections are also held in a transparent manner and the results are accepted by the contesting parties," Dilshad said.
When the Election Commission had announced the schedule for the by-polls, balloting was to be held in a total of 38 national and provincial assembly constituencies. But by the polling day, the number was reduced to 28.
In some constituencies, candidates were elected unopposed. In a couple of constituencies, polls could not be held due to he death of contesting candidates or litigation.
PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif was elected unopposed to the provincial assembly of Punjab and subsequently became Chief Minister. His son Hamza Shahbaz too was elected unopposed to the National Assembly.
