Safety first: Candidates hand over arms as campaigns come to close
Special control rooms have been set up at the Jhang DCO’s and DPO’s offices to monitor security on polling day
Special control rooms have been set up at the Jhang DCO’s and DPO’s offices to monitor security on polling day. PHOTO: EXPRESS
BAHAWALPUR/MULTAN/FAISALABAD:
Election activities and campaigns in districts, where local government elections will be held on December 5, ended on Thursday. The candidates have been asked to handover any weapons in their possession at the nearest police stations.
A police spokesperson said display of weapons in celebration rallies and at polling stations had been banned. He said the weapons deposited at the police stations would be returned after the polls.
In Jhang, a police spokesperson said, candidates have handed over 16 Kalashnikovs, 25 other rifles, 33 shotguns and 24 revolvers/pistols at various police stations in the district. The spokesperson said 166 army men and Rangers have arrived at Jhang to help ensure fool proof security on polling day.
“Jhang has a number of groups that clash along political and religious lines…Therefore security is a major concern during the election.”
He said the Police Department had made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of voters and candidates. The army men and Rangers will be deployed at the sensitive (category B) and the most sensitive (category A) polling stations. Walk-through gates would be set up and voters will be frisked before being allowed to enter the polling stations.
Of the 1,084 polling stations set up in Jhang district, 134 polling stations have been declared most sensitive (category A) and 333 polling stations sensitive (category B).
Special control rooms have been set up at the Jhang DCO’s and DPO’s offices to monitor security on polling day.
He said officers of the local administration and the Police Department will conduct surprise checks in sensitive areas.
The presiding officers and polling staff have been given phone numbers they can call on to immediately report any law and order situation to police and administration high-ups.
Bahawalpur district
Candidates’ offices have been checked for weapons, DPO Sarfraz Ahmad Falki said on Thursday. He said 1,255 polling stations had been set up in the province.
Multan district
More than 15,000 security personnel will be deployed in Multan district on polling day.
A police spokesperson said 36 DSPs, 72 inspectors, 619 sub inspectors, 1,200 head constables, 500 constables, 6,000 additional personnel and 2,300 volunteers would be deployed to monitor law and order. He said 72 vehicles of the Elite Force would patrol the city and two companies of the army would remain on standby.
Of the 1,793 polling stations in the district, more than 100 have been declared most sensitive (category A). The spokesperson said seven cops, two volunteers and four additional personnel will be deployed at each highly sensitive polling station.
RPO Tariq Masood Yasin has told the police to remain impartial. “It is essential that the police remain unbiased.” He said half of all candidates had furnished surety bonds pertaining to the display of weapons and breaking the election code of conduct.
Yasin said policemen had been instructed not to abandon their posts till the results were announced.
Candidates’ and MPs’ vehicles will be checked after 4pm on Friday. “No one, not even lawmakers, are allowed to carry weapons on polling day.”
CPO Azhar Akram has directed the candidates to deposit their weapons at the CPO’s office. “We will return the weapons on December 7.”
The CPO said 2,000 mobile phone SIMS had been distributed among policemen at the most sensitive polling stations to ensure close coordination with polling staff.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2015.
Election activities and campaigns in districts, where local government elections will be held on December 5, ended on Thursday. The candidates have been asked to handover any weapons in their possession at the nearest police stations.
A police spokesperson said display of weapons in celebration rallies and at polling stations had been banned. He said the weapons deposited at the police stations would be returned after the polls.
In Jhang, a police spokesperson said, candidates have handed over 16 Kalashnikovs, 25 other rifles, 33 shotguns and 24 revolvers/pistols at various police stations in the district. The spokesperson said 166 army men and Rangers have arrived at Jhang to help ensure fool proof security on polling day.
“Jhang has a number of groups that clash along political and religious lines…Therefore security is a major concern during the election.”
He said the Police Department had made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of voters and candidates. The army men and Rangers will be deployed at the sensitive (category B) and the most sensitive (category A) polling stations. Walk-through gates would be set up and voters will be frisked before being allowed to enter the polling stations.
Of the 1,084 polling stations set up in Jhang district, 134 polling stations have been declared most sensitive (category A) and 333 polling stations sensitive (category B).
Special control rooms have been set up at the Jhang DCO’s and DPO’s offices to monitor security on polling day.
He said officers of the local administration and the Police Department will conduct surprise checks in sensitive areas.
The presiding officers and polling staff have been given phone numbers they can call on to immediately report any law and order situation to police and administration high-ups.
Bahawalpur district
Candidates’ offices have been checked for weapons, DPO Sarfraz Ahmad Falki said on Thursday. He said 1,255 polling stations had been set up in the province.
Multan district
More than 15,000 security personnel will be deployed in Multan district on polling day.
A police spokesperson said 36 DSPs, 72 inspectors, 619 sub inspectors, 1,200 head constables, 500 constables, 6,000 additional personnel and 2,300 volunteers would be deployed to monitor law and order. He said 72 vehicles of the Elite Force would patrol the city and two companies of the army would remain on standby.
Of the 1,793 polling stations in the district, more than 100 have been declared most sensitive (category A). The spokesperson said seven cops, two volunteers and four additional personnel will be deployed at each highly sensitive polling station.
RPO Tariq Masood Yasin has told the police to remain impartial. “It is essential that the police remain unbiased.” He said half of all candidates had furnished surety bonds pertaining to the display of weapons and breaking the election code of conduct.
Yasin said policemen had been instructed not to abandon their posts till the results were announced.
Candidates’ and MPs’ vehicles will be checked after 4pm on Friday. “No one, not even lawmakers, are allowed to carry weapons on polling day.”
CPO Azhar Akram has directed the candidates to deposit their weapons at the CPO’s office. “We will return the weapons on December 7.”
The CPO said 2,000 mobile phone SIMS had been distributed among policemen at the most sensitive polling stations to ensure close coordination with polling staff.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2015.