F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Polling commenced in the 269 polling stations in the NA-4 constituency at 8am today (Thursday).
Deputy Commissioner has declared a holiday in the constituency for the convenience of the voters. For the first time electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be tested in the electoral process and in 100 polling booths EVMs are using alongside the manual voting process.
Total 14 candidates are contesting the election including six political party candidates and eight independent candidates are in the race for the MNA slot.
The tough competition is expected on the NA-04 seat and the main candidates including PTI’s Arbab Amir Ayub, Asad Gulzar — late incumbent Gulzar Khan’s son for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party’s (ANP) Khushdil Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Wisal Farooq and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Nasir Khan Moosa Zai.
Apart from 1,400 army personnel, around 4,500 police officials are stationed for security in and around the polling stations.