Violence has re-erupted during the re-polling process at six polling stations in NA-43 Tank-cum-Dera Ismail Khan constituency, casting a shadow over the electoral proceedings and raising concerns about the safety of voters and election staff.
Police said that gunfire erupted outside the Kot Azam polling station, prompting a swift response from the authorities. Initial reports indicated that terrorists attacked both police personnel and civilians outside the polling station in an apparent bid to disrupt the democratic process.
Amidst the exchange of fire between the terrorists and the police, one attacker was reportedly killed in retaliatory action. However, the situation remained tense, with firing continuing outside the polling station, heightening fears of further violence and instability.
Later, polling resumed at the Kot Azam polling station after a brief interruption.
Earlier in the day, as re-polling in six polling stations of Dera Ismail Khan’s NA-43 constituency began on Monday, voters could not cast their votes in five out of the six polling stations where the exercise was ordered by the election commission.
Even after the 8am scheduled time passed, the re-polling could not commence at Attal Sharif (female and male), Kot Azam, Rorri, Looni (female and male) polling stations, as the police and election commission staff could not reach these five destinations.
The polling exercise is supposed to continue till 5pm.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman's son and former federal minister Maulana Asad Mahmood had filed an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan that polling was not held in these constituencies. The ECP then ordered polling in these areas on February 19, which was earlier scheduled for February 17.
Engineer Dawar Khan Kundi, an independent candidate backed by the PTI, had defeated Maulana Asad Mahmood in the February 8 elections with 63,556 votes in a tough competition. JUI-F's Maulana Asad had bagged 62,730 votes, with the overall voter turnout being 43.32%.
On February 8, the election staff, including policemen, were kidnapped by terrorists from the Rorri polling station, while the Attal Sharif polling station was also attacked by terrorists.
