SUKKUR: The Election Commission of Pakistan has finalised arrangements for the PS-9 Shikarpur by-election, scheduled for tomorrow (today).
Pakistan Rangers and Police have been deployed at the polling stations in Shikarpur, while the Pakistan Army has also been put on standby. SSP Shikarpur Shahzeb Chachar has said that election material is being dispatched to 178 polling stations amid tight security.
Eight candidates are in the fray, with a tough contest expected between PPP’s Agha Shahbaz Khan Durrani and JUI-F’s Rashadullah Shah Amrooti. Both candidates have been actively campaigning, promising to address local issues.
The Election Commission has established 178 polling stations, including 49 for male, 49 for female, and 80 combined polling stations. Of these, 54 have been declared highly sensitive, 84 sensitive, and 40 normal. The Election Commission has set up a four-tier Election Monitoring and Control Centres (EMCC) to address public complaints during the election process. Citizens can lodge complaints via email, helpline, or fax.
Earlier, Agha Sameer Durrani, nephew of former Speaker Sindh Assembly late Agha Siraj Durrani, met with Pir Pagara, requesting support for PPP candidate Agha Shahbaz Khan Durrani. However, Pir Pagara declined offering any support.
JUIF’s Moulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro said in the general election their candidate Rashadullah Shah had secured 25,634 votes against PPP candidate late Agha Siraj Ahmed Durrani. He claimed support of GDA and other parties and hoped that they will poll votes in favour of the JUI-F candidate.
He claimed Shikarpur as a JUIF stronghold but complained that their candidates were defeated by rigging during elections in 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2024.
