PESHAWAR  – The process of polling in NA-4 by-poll has ended as the returning officer and other staff of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started counting votes to see which political party triumphed.

All major political parties including PML-N, PPP, PTI, ANP and others are competing in the by-poll and have flexed their muscle to clinch the constituency before the 2018 general elections. Voting begin in the morning at 8am and ended in the evening at 5pm.

Electronic voting machines were used in as many as 35 polling stations. It is the first time that the technology has been used. A large number of women within the Peshawar constituency have also cast votes in favour of their desired leaders.

All major and minor political parties tried their best to attract voters and urged them to show support at the polling stations. It was interesting to see that the old and disabled also opted to use their right to vote.

A tight contest is expected in the by-election in the constituency. PTI has fielded Arbab Amir Ayub while Nasir Khan is PML-N candidate. Pakistan People’s Party’s Asad Gulzar and Awami National Party’s Khush Dil Khan are also in the run.

Both the workers from PML-N and PTI came head to head in numerous occasions and chanted slogans in support of their party leaders. A few incidents of physical confrontation occurred. Party workers assaulted on another in Gulshan Rehman Colony. PPP MPA Nighat Orakzai entered the polling station holding AK-47 and shocked everyone around.

To counter such incidetns, a high-level security plan was devised for the by-poll. ECP had called in Pakistan Army soldiers to strengthen the security within and outside the polling booths. CCTV cameras had also been installed at various stations.