The chief election commissioner (CEC) presiding over a meeting on the local bodies elections in Punjab urged officials to perform their duty without any fear and intimidation.
He said the officials should not fear any political party, bureaucracy maybe permanent but the prime minister and ministers are not.
The Punjab Police IG, provincial government officials, DCOs, DPOs, and Returning Officers of the concerned districts attended the meeting in Lahore.
The meeting chaired by CEC Justice (r) Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, decided to deploy military troops at 960 ‘most sensitive’ and 3,000 ‘sensitive’ polling stations in Punjab.
Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Babar Yaqoob in a media briefing about the meeting said that it was also decided to deploy military troops and paramilitary Rangers personnel in eight districts of Sindh.
The secretary said that over 25,000 candidates are contesting elections in Punjab on November 19, during the second phase of the local bodies’ polls.
He said all preparations for elections have been completed and ballot papers are being transported to the polling stations.
The ECP secretary further said that 100,000 police officers and 40 companies of the Army have been called for the maintenance of law and order on the polling day. Moreover, 25 companies of the military will remain in reserve to meet any contingency requirement at the time of the results.
The election commission secretary said that the election code of conduct would be implemented strictly.
He also said that the elections, which faced postponement in the first, second and third phase of the polls would be conducted on December 14. The names of the successful candidates in this phase will also be released after completion of the first three phases of the election.