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Pakistan Votes in 13 By-Elections Under Tight Security

A three-tier plan empowers police upfront with civil armed forces plus the army in quick-reaction roles to support the Election Commission.

Overview

  • Polling runs from 8am to 5pm for six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly seats across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with unofficial results barred for one hour after close.
  • The Interior Ministry approved deployments from November 22 to 24, granting powers under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti‑Terrorism Act and conferring limited first‑class magistrate authority on designated officers.
  • Under the ECP’s code, police are first responders, civil armed forces are second-tier in standby or quick-reaction mode, and the Pakistan Army serves as an in-situ quick reaction force.
  • Punjab has deployed more than 20,000 police personnel, declared 408 polling stations highly sensitive, and installed CCTV for real-time monitoring through central and district control rooms.
  • Voting has been largely orderly with a brief halt at PP-269 Muzaffargarh resolved, while PTI figures allege missing Form 45s in NA-129 and reporters note low turnout at some Lahore booths.