KARACHI, (DNA) – Polling for the by-election on Sindh Assembly’s constituency PS-94, Karachi is underway.

According to the provincial election Commission, the polling process which started at 8am will continue non-stop till 5pm.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan MPA Muhammad Wajahat.

The number of total registered voters in the constituency is around 246,449, out of which 136,808 are male voters, while 109,641 are female voters.

A total of 16 candidates are contesting the by-election, which includes Muhammad Ashraf Jabbar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Syed Hashim Raza of MQM-P, Javed Sheikh of Pakistan Peoples Party PPP, Muhammad Irfan Waheed of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Muhammad Aslam Pervez Abbasi of Muttahida Majlis e Amal (MMA).

The provincial government has made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the poll is conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established 149 polling stations and 596 polling booths for the by-election.

MQM-P member Muhammad Wajahat (late) won this seat with 32,729 votes in the general elections of 2018. His opponents, Muhammad Shoaib from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) acquired 14,030 votes, Fareedullah from PTI got 13,640 votes, Arif Azam from Muhajir Qaumi Movement bagged 10,828 votes, Muhammad Aslam Pervez Abbasi from MMA obtained 7,614 votes, Muhammad Irfan from PSP got 4,187 votes and Gul-e-Rana from PPP got 2,458 votes.

There are 1,300 police officials deployed for the by-election process. Additionally, Rangers’ personnel will also be present at the polling stations across the constituency.

According to ECP, it is mandatory for the voters to bring their National Identity Cards (NICs) to cast their votes. Expired NICs will also be accepted. The voters wouldn’t be allowed to bring mobile phones in the polling stations.

More than 2,000 polling staff has been appointed for the by-election. The constituency comprises several areas of Landhi sub-division which include Christian Colony, Khizer Abad, Sarfaraz Colony, Bhutto Nagar, Area 37-B, Jam Nagar, Katchi Abadi, Bahadur Yar Jang Colony, Khurram Abad, Landhi No. 2, 5 and 6, Khuwaja Ajmer, Usmania Colony, Shah Khalid Colony, Burmi Colony, Sharif Colony, Korangi 35-B, Korangi 36-C Area, Korangi No. 6 and others.