–Army to be deployed inside and outside ‘sensitive’ polling stations
PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed all necessary arrangements for “free, transparent and peaceful” holding of elections in the tribal districts for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly scheduled for July 20, 2019.
This was informed during a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan regarding upcoming elections in the newly merged districts.
The meeting was attended by the KP additional chief secretary, interior secretary, provincial election commissioner, representatives of security agencies and all districts returning officers.
The meeting was told that the army would be deployed inside and outside in most sensitive polling stations, and outside of all other polling stations, said the ECP in a statement.
The provincial government has informed that section 144 has been withdrawn from all tribal districts on the orders of ECP.
The chief election commissioner received complaints that political parties and candidates are facing difficulties in running of election campaign due to the imposition of section 144 by the provincial government in merged districts.
The CEC has directed the provincial government not to release development funds in the concerned districts till holding of the elections.
He further directed all district returning officers and returning officers to ensure implementation of the code of conduct issued by ECP for the election process and perform their duties with best of abilities and dedication.
The KP government has assured to make all-out efforts for installation of CCTV cameras on all polling stations, including most sensitive polling stations.
The meeting was also informed about ECP’s endeavours to bring a maximum number of registered voters to polling stations to exercise their right of the franchise under a free and secure environment, especially by the female voters.
Women security personnel would be deployed on all female and combined polling stations to bring further improvement in security.
