Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday directed authorities concerned to ensure security during local body elections during the second phase of local bodies elections on November 19.
He has also directed all the candidates contesting the local body elections to submit their personal arms at their respective polling stations.
In a high-level meeting presided over by Shehbaz Sharif, measures to maintain law and order during the second phase of local body elections were examined. Sharif directed on this occasion to cancel the licenses of the candidates that do not give up their arms till the local body elections. He also ordered to ensure the adherence to the ban on display of arms.
He said that nobody is allowed to lead a victory rally. He also ordered police to ensure strict implementation of the plan to ensure law and order in the 12 districts where polls are being held on Thursday.
The 2nd phase of local body elections in Punjab will start on November 19. A meeting headed by the Chief Election Commissioner was held on Tuesday in Lahore and was attended by Punjab Chief Secretary, IG Punjab, provincial election commissioner, DPOs and DCOs.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the ECP secretary said that 40 army companies had been called for the 2nd phase of the election. “Security will be maintained on the election day under any circumstances,” he said.
Responding to a question, he said that deployment of army on all polling stations was not possible so they will be patrolling the sensitive ones only. He said that the total number of polling stations in 2nd phase of local body elections in Punjab is 11,869 out of which 960 are sensitive.
Meanwhile, talking to representatives of a private TV channel, Sharif Tuesday said the government cannot stop the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) if it wishes to start action against corruption in the Punjab.
Sharif said that metro and Orange Line train project initiatives are welfare projects. He said local government bodies would be audited at least twice a year, once every six months.
Sharif said that there is no threat to democracy and democratic institutions as the government is fulfilling promises. Talking about the mega projects by the government in Lahore, he said that Metro Bus and Orange Line projects are fulfilling the purposes they were established for.
MEETING: Shehbaz Sharif has said that the results of local government polls have validated the results of 2013 elections.
Talking to elected representatives that called on him at the Chief Minister’s House, he said the country would make progress by leaps and bound during the next two and half years. He said peaceful and prosperous Pakistan is the agenda of PML-N and the government is working round the clock for accomplishing the mission of development and progress.
The chief minister said all out measures were being taken for eliminating terrorism, energy crisis, poverty and unemployment. “We are making sincere efforts for achieving the goal of progress and prosperity and bringing the country out of darkness,” he added.
Sharif said the country under the sagacious leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is rapidly marching on the path of progress.
