By-polls: 2,000 cops to be deployed for PK-78

35 of 117 polling stations declared highly sensitive

PESHAWAR: As many as 2,000 policemen will be deployed in Peshawar to maintain security for by-elections in the provincial assembly constituency of PK-78.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), there are 117 polling stations in the constituency. Of these, 35 have been declared as highly-sensitive while 82 have been deemed as sensitive.

Peshawar Operation SSP Javed Iqbal told the media that a majority of the police officers will be deployed at the highly-sensitive polling stations.

“Around 108 policewomen have also been deployed in the women’s polling stations,” he said, adding that of the 117 polling stations, 63 were for men and 53 were for women. Apart from guarding the polling stations from the ground, some officers will be deployed on the roofs of these polling stations.

Elections could not be held on PK-78 Peshawar on July 25 owing to the fatal suicide attack on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour. The attack had left Bilour and 22 others dead while over 60 had been injured. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2018.