Election security: Over 5,000 policemen to secure Rajanpur

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Arrangements for the final phase of the local government elections set to be held on Saturday (today) in Rajanpur District have been completed.

Rajanpur DCO Zahoor Hussain Gujjar said over 5,000 policemen would secure the district on election day. Of the district’s 579 polling stations, he said, 40 had been declared extremely sensitive and 186 had been declared sensitive. Gujjar said police had also established a control room to monitor proceedings on election day. He said assembly of five or more people would be prohibited within 300 metres of all polling stations.

Most candidates contesting the elections are vying in an independent capacity. The Leghari, Mazari, Gorchani and Dreshak families are expected to dominate the elections with the feudal family mustering support for candidates of their choosing. Jaffar Khan Leghari of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was elected MNA from the NA-154 constituency that falls in the district. Erstwhile MNA Mina Jaffar Leghari and Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani are reputed to not see eye to eye on various issues with both levelling accusations against one and another and candidates affiliated with either of the two. Leghari has also accused Gorchani of using public resources to run his electoral campaign.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2015.