NAGARPARKAR: Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested three men after the polling station set on fire amid the by-election for a National Assembly seat in Tharparkar’s NA-221.
According to details, a polling station in the constituency was set on fire after which the ballot papers and boxes were reduced to ashes.
Several incidents of violence were reported in different areas of the contingency during the polling process. The local police said that a fight broke out between the ruling party and Pakistan People’s Party groups.
Following the incident, an additional contingent of security forces has been deployed and the fire has been extinguished.
According to Election Commission of Pakistan, 12 candidates are contesting the election. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of PPP, MNA Noor Mohammad Shah Jilani due to coronavirus.
The ECP has established 318 polling stations for the by-election and declared 13 of them as sensitive while 95 as highly sensitive. Overall 281,900 voters will cast their vote in the NA-221 Tharparkar.
The contest in the constituency is expected between PPP candidate Mir Ali Shah Jeelani and PTI candidate Nizamuddin Rahimoon.
The District Returning Officer (DRO) in the constituency said that police and Rangers personnel are providing  security during the polling process, which started at 8:00 am and culminate at 5:00 pm.
