PS-114 by-polls: 1,500 cops, 500 Rangers to provide security

Anti-Muhajir graffiti seen in the constituency days before election

Law enforcement agencies have declared over a dozen sensitive spots in PS-114 ahead of the upcoming by-polls in the Sindh Assembly constituency.

Four major political parties - the Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) - are in the field, showing their strength by holding public meetings and rallies.

As political activities in Karachi's PS-114 have gained momentum ahead of the July 9 by-polls, law enforcement agencies have also devised a contingency plan to ensure that the day passes peacefully.

According to a police contingency plan, more than 1,500 cops would be deployed in the constituency for security, while they have also declared over a dozen points 'sensitive', where clashes between rival political parties are feared.

"More than 1,500 cops would be deployed on the day of the election," explained Jamshed division SP Dr Muhammad Rizwan Khan. "Besides their deployment at polling stations and rooftops, the cops will also be patrolling on at least 30 motorcycle squads and 20 police mobile vans," he said.



The officer said that the police have also declared sensitive points in the constituency following incidents that occurred in the past elections. "We have declared at least 15 spots like Chanesar Goth and Gujjar Chowk as 'most sensitive', keeping the past in view," SP Khan explained. "We have made special arrangements for these sensitive points."

Apart from the police, troops from the paramilitary force will also be performing security duties, in collaboration with the police, to avoid any untoward incident. Nearly 500 troops will be deployed for security duties.

The decision to deploy the policemen, including three companies of Rapid Response Force (RRF), was made during a meeting chaired by Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal. The meeting was attended by Karachi Additional IG Mushtaq Maher, Counter-Terrorism Depart Additional IG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi, Additional IG Special Branch Dr Waliullah Dal, East Zone DIG Arif Hanif and SSP Faizullah Korejo.

The spokesperson for the home minister said that Siyal stressed the need to ensure a peaceful atmosphere and keep an eye on suspicious elements during the by-election.



"The minister has directed the tightening of security by adding more police personnel and ensuring that polling stations are searched properly by the bomb disposal squad," he said, adding that 41 police mobiles, five armoured personnel carriers and 60 motorcycles are being arranged for security on July 9.

Graffiti issue

While the police were busy making security arrangements, tension gripped the area after anti-Muhajir graffiti 'Muhajiron Ghaddar - Muhajiron India Jao' appeared on the Wednesday night.

MQM-Pakistan has strongly condemned the graffiti and termed it a conspiracy by its rival political parties. "The supporters of the PPP have [shown] their reaction following the hate speeches by the PPP candidate for PS-114, Senator Saeed Ghani, and Irfanullah Marwat, who announced his support for PTI as well," MQM-Pakistan leader Aminul Haq told The Express Tribune. "But we will not take the law into our own hands. Our voters will show their reaction by casting their votes for MQM-Pakistan in the election," he said.

On the other hand, Senator Ghani said he had no idea about the graffiti. "I don't know what graffiti you are talking about. I did not notice any kind of graffiti, neither have I been party to any hate speech," Ghani said.

The police took notice of the incident and immediately removed the graffiti. SP Khan said that the graffiti was immediately removed and the police have approached MQM-Pakistan to lodge a case.