The Chief Election Commissioner has authorised the election officials to exercise magisterial powers during the conduct of by-elections in two constituencies. The officials would be eligible to exercise the powers of Magistrate First Class under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898).
These powers shall be exercised in respect of offences punishable under section 80, 82A, 83, 84, 85, 86 and section 87 of the said Act. With the authorisation of magisterial powers, the officials may take cognisance of offences under any clause of sub-section (1) of section 190 of the said code and try any such offence in a summary way in accordance with the provisions of the said code relating to summary trial.
District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers and Presiding Officers have been appointed on each polling station for by-elections in NA-61 Chakwal-II and PS-94 Karachi-VI being held on October 20 and 17th respectively.