Security arrangement for NA-133 polls finalised

2,000 police personnel including 44 SHOs will be deployed for duty

LAHORE:

At least 2,000 police officers and officials including six SSPs, 14 SDPOs, 44 SHOs would be deployed to man as many as 254 polling stations set up for the polling process of NA-133 by-elections and ensure law and order.

The polling stations had further been categorised as per their sensitivity. At least 22 polling stations were included in the A category, 198 of B category whereas 34 polling stations of C category. Around 200 separate polling stations have been set up for men and women and 54 mixed polling stations have also been set up.

Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Fayyaz Ahmad Dev while sharing the details on Friday said that at least 52 teams of Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit, as well as seven teams of Quick Response Force, would also ensure effective patrolling around the polling stations.

The Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) will also make use of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) installed by the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) as well as the district government in different parts of the constituency to maximise monitoring and surveillance.

Meanwhile, senior police officers would be constantly monitoring the security arrangements while either on patrol or through the control room, the CCPO added

A special control room has also been set up at Government Graduate College for Women Township where teams of police, district government and law enforcement agencies will continuously monitor the polling process.

Police would also cordon off areas surrounding polling stations and use barricades, barbed wires and tents for this purpose.

As far as security to corner meetings, rallies and gatherings were concerned, police had asked candidates to inform law enforcement agencies about their activities in advance.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2021.