NA-246 by-polls: ECP declines request for biometric system

ECP conditionally agrees to allowing installation of CCTV cameras in polling stations

KARACHI:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declined a request of the Sindh Rangers for holding the NA-246 by-election under the biometric system – but conditionally agreed to allow installation of CCTV cameras in polling stations.

ECP Secretary Baber Yaqoob said this while addressing a news conference along with ECP’s member from Sindh on Saturday. Earlier, he discussed arrangements for the by-poll with ECP and senior government officials and also paid a visit to the constituency.

Yaqoob assured that the commission would ensure free, fair and transparent balloting in NA-246 on April 23. “Though the Rangers’ recommendation to hold the by-poll under biometrics system is in good faith, the ECP is currently not technically ready for this,” he added.

About the installation of CCTV cameras at polling stations, he said the provincial government has already offered these cameras, and if more were needed the ECP would arrange them. However, he made it clear that there would be no compromise on the sanctity of vote.

Yaqoob said Rangers troops in addition to 7,300 police officials, including nine SPs, would be deployed in the constituency for ensuring peaceful conduct of the poll. Rangers will be deployed in and outside the polling stations for security duty under Article 245 of the Constitution. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.