Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has summoned a special cabinet meeting today (Saturday) to evolve a foolproof security protocol with feedback from the security establishment, federal and provincial governments, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.
A well-placed source in the government revealed that the government was taking the terrorist attacks across the country extremely seriously.
“The federal cabinet is likely to be taken into confidence on the intelligence reports received regarding the threats to polls. Briefings would be made by security agencies, Interior Ministry and other related institutions over the quantum of threat, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism strategy and collaboration between law enforcing agencies. The cabinet may also be taken into confidence on the high-profile political personalities facing threats. The cabinet would also be briefed on security arrangements being made by provincial governments,” the source added.
Official sources said that the government had received intelligence reports suggesting serious threats to the elections and the government had planned to counter such threats.
The source added that the quick response units of the armed forces would be available on call while police and rangers would be deployed in and around the polling stations to counter any terrorist threat.
The source added that the meeting would also discuss cooperation and collaboration with the election commission of Pakistan (ECP), armed forces and other stakeholders in this regard. The cabinet would also likely be informed on threats to top politicians and the arrangements made for provision of security to them.
The source said the role of provincial governments was crucial in counter-terrorism strategy, because the law and order was a provincial subject but the federal government was fully backing the provincial governments to counter any challenge from terrorists.
The government has already decided to seal the borders on the polling day to counter any possibility of infiltration from neighbouring countries, while no load-shedding would be observed for 36 hours before and after the polling day.