By-elections in Punjab, Sindh: presiding Officers to wield magistracy powers for three days

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday authorised the District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers appointed for Bye-Elections in six Constituencies scheduled to be held on December 4. The election in these constituencies were earlier scheduled for November 17 and November 27, but deferred on separate requests of provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh. The bye-elections were deferred because of Muharram.
The Presiding Officers appointed for each Polling Station of the said Constituency to exercise the powers of a Magistrate of the First Class under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) on December 4, the day appointed for polling for Bye-Election, in respect of offences punishable under sections 80, 82A, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the Representation of the People Act of 1976 and to take cognisance of any such offence under any of the clauses of sub-section (1) of Section 190 of the said Criminal Procedure Code and to try any such offence in a summary way in accordance with the provisions of the said Code, relating to summary trials.
This will be the first time that Presiding Officers will exercise the powers of Magistrates for three days. The bye-elections will be held on two seats of National Assembly, NA-107 Gujrat-IV and NA-162 Sahiwall-III. On the same day, elections will also be held on three Provincial Assembly seats in Punjab: PP-26 Jehlum-III, PP-92 Gujranwala-II and PP-122 Sialkot-II and one seat for Provincial Assembly of Sindh PS-21 Naushero Feroz-III.