Only 234 out of a total of 4,141 polling stations in Karachi for the third phase of the local government elections have been declared normal, with over 94 percent of stations declared either sensitive or highly sensitive, local media quoting ECP reported on Wednesday.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 1,791 polling stations (43pc) have been declared highly sensitive while 2,116 (54pc) are being considered sensitive for the third phase of the local government polls scheduled to be held on December 5 (Saturday).
All polling stations in District Central and Korangi have been declared either sensitive or highly sensitive. The largest number of highly sensitive polling stations (497) is in District West, with 396 stations declared sensitive out of a total of 937 stations where polling will take place on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 859 polling stations were declared sensitive in Karachi’s District Central. The ECP has summoned 20 companies of Pakistan Army troops to be deployed in the city to assist during the elections. According to an ECP notification, army and Rangers personnel will be in charge of the law and order and security situation on polling day, while Rangers personnel will also have powers of first class magistrate authorised to enter any polling station and arrest any suspect if the need arises. Meanwhile, the Special Security Unit (SSU) of the Sindh police said that 400 police commandos would also be deployed in Karachi on polling day. The commandos will be posted at highly sensitive polling stations and will be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons to carry out their duties, said the SSU spokesman.