Interim home minister warns candidates to abide by ECP rules

Bangulzai says CCTV cameras being installed at all polling stations

QUETTA: Caretaker Balochistan Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Agha Umar Bangulzai has warned the candidates for National Assembly and provincial assembly seats to follow the rules and regulations laid down by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), saying otherwise strict action will be taken against the violators by the interim government.
The home minister shared these views on Thursday while chairing a high-level meeting regarding the law and order and security arrangement for the upcoming general elections.



During the meeting, Quetta Commissioner Muhammad Hashim Ghalzai had briefed the home minister regarding polls arrangement and security measures for the polling staff.
“The district administration is utilising all resources at its disposal to ensure candidates follow ECP’s rules and regulations for conducting election campaigns in Quetta. Security plan has been finalised for elections while extra forces will be deployed at sensitive polling stations,” the Quetta commissioner informed the meeting.
Addressing the members, minister Bangulzai said, “We have to finalise all election arrangements in a short period of time; therefore, we all have to utilise our earnest efforts in providing a secure and conducive election environment to the people of Balochistan.



“Holding free and fair elections is the priority of the caretaker set-up in Balochistan; therefore, we can’t allow political candidates to violate the ECP’s rules and regulations.”
Bangulzai directed the authorities to take action against candidates violating the ECP’s regulations.
On security arrangements for the general elections in Balochistan, he said, “Extra deployment of police, Levis and Frontier Corps is under way in sensitive polling stations while CCTV cameras will be installed at all polling stations to avoid any mismanagement during on the polling day.”