Sindh government has made all necessary arrangements for by-elections on two provincial seats including PS-57 (Badin-I) and PS-53 (Tando Mohammad Khan cum Hyderabad-XI), to be held on February 25, 2012 (today). Provincial Election Commissioner, Sono Khan Baloch told Business Recorder that 115 polling stations and 272 polling booths have been set up in PS-57 (Badin-I) while, 97,479 voters would cast their votes.
He told that 102 polling stations and 286 polling booths have been set up in PS 53 (Tando Mohammad Khan cum Hyderabad-XI) where 1,13,812 voters would cast their votes. He said that required staff has been deployed at every polling station of both the constituencies while ballot papers, boxes and other related material has also been dispatched at all the polling stations.
He informed that 19 candidates are contesting in PS-57 including PPP's Hasnain Mirza (son of Dr Zulifqar Mirza), PML-L's Syed Ali Bux (Papu) Shah, PML-N's Mir Manzoor Talpur, MQM's Ghazi Salahudin and 14 independent candidates, namely, Punjoo Bheel Advocate, Pir Bux, Khan Sahib Jamali, Khuda Bux Mallah, Darya Khan, Devdas, Dr Abdul Aziz Memon, Ghulam Rasool Jamali, Karim Dino, Mohammad Ramzan Halo, Mohammad Hashim Dal, Moulana Abdullah Sindhi and Mir Abdullah Khan.
Whereas 11 candidates including PPP's Ms Waheeda, Sarfaraz Ahmed Bhatti, Irshad Hussein Shah, Aijaz Hussein Shah, Amir Zardari, Fazal Nizamani, Saleem Samro, Mushtaque Talpur, Mir Khalid Hussein Talpur, Mir Lutuf Ali Talpur and Niaz Almani are contesting for the seat of MPA in PS-53 (Tando Mohammad Khan cum Hyderabad-XI), he added.
The election commissioner said Law Enforcement Agencies have declared many polling stations at sensitive in both the constituencies, while troops of police force have been deployed at every poling station to face any untoward situation. To a question, he said that office of PEC has not received any complain of law and order and from any of constituencies so it could be said that the polling would be held peacefully.
On the other hand, local people of Badin told Business Recorder that although Dr Zulifqar Mirza seems to be angry with the leadership of PPP and he has resigned from all official and party positions, but he is engaged in the election campaign of his son Hasnain Mirza who is the candidate of PPP for the election of PS-57 Badin.
PML-L's candidate for same seat, Syed Ali Bux (Papu) Shah alleged that government has started pre-poll rigging in order to win the by-election. "Dr Fahmida Mirza, being a Speaker National Assembly, is running the election campaign of her son Hasnain Mirza, he alleged while talking to Business Recorder through telephone from Badin". He said that Fahmida Mirza is holding corner meetings in various villages and is distributing government-jobs as official bribe among the people to get their support, which is totally illegal and unconstitutional.
Nevertheless, Hasnain Mirza rejected the allegations of Syed Ali Bux (Papu) Shah and said that Shah is afraid of his position that's why he has launched fake propaganda against him and his party. He claimed that he will win the by-election with a major lead and will serve the people of constituency. PML-N's candidate Mir Manzoor Talpur said that though he knows that government is supporting Hasnain Mirza but he will fight the election till the last day of the polling. Meanwhile, MQM's Qamar Mansoor has confirmed the contest of his party's candidate in Badin's by-election and said that Ghazi Salahuddin would fight till the day of polling.