All eyes on Cantt polls as tough contest expected between govt, opposition candidates             

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already published lists of all polling stations while polling staff has also been appointed.

Police would be deployed at polling stations, whereas Rangers would perform their duties outside the polling stations for ensuring smooth conduct of polling.

The Election Commission has also approved the installation of CCTV cameras in the most sensitive polling stations.

Presiding officers would announce the results immediately after completion of counting whereas Returning Officers would announce the unofficial results after completion of the results of each ward.

Over 1,300 candidates are in the run for 119 general seats in these cantonments, where about one million voters will cast their votes.

The residents of the cantonment areas will cast their votes to elect their civilian representatives on the cantonment boards.

The total number of registered voters in their respective constituencies is 466,695 of which 244,317 are male while 222,198 are female voters.

Both, Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have fielded candidates for all (20) seats, while the banned organization Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is running for 19 slots.

In Lahore, 257 candidates are contesting for 20 wards in the two cantonments. The ECP has declared 40 and 237 polling stations as extremely sensitive in these cantonments.

In addition, keeping the sensitivity of the highly charged elections seen as the litmus test of political power of several parties, the head of Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) has barred members of national and provincial assemblies from visiting.

In an official letter, the CBC said that the ECP is trying to hold election in accordance with the code of conduct.