77,000 cops to be deployed for polls

CM orders inquiry into Charsadda incident

PESHAWAR:

A total of nine security personnel would be deployed in category A polling stations, five in category B and three in category C polling stations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as a total of 77,000 policemen would be deployed for the security of around 9,000 polling stations.

Around 10,000 soldiers of army will be available as backup in case of emergency.

This was revealed during a high-level meeting about law and order situation chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

The meeting was informed that about 77,000 police personnel would be deployed for local bodies elections in 17 districts of the province in addition to 10,000 Quick Response Forces of Army and Frontier Corps as a backup, adding that 9,000 polling stations in 17 districts have been divided into three different categories A, B, C with regard to security arrangements.

It was revealed that a total of nine security personals would be deployed in category A polling stations, five in category B and three in category C polling stations.

The chief minister while showing concerns on law and order especially successful attacks on police deputed on the security of polio teams, directed the high ups to take effective measures to avoid such incidents in future.

He termed the untoward incident that took place in Mandani area of district Charsadda of serious concern and directed an independent inquiry covering all the aspects of the incidents be conducted through special branch.

Mahmood Khan termed the long standing land disputes amongst various tribes of the merged districts one of the main reasons lawlessness in the area and directed the Home Department, police and district administrations to devise a mechanism acceptable to both the parties for settlement of these disputes.

CM ordered Commissioner and Regional Police Officer Hazara to revisit the security plan for the security of foreigners working on mega developmental project in the region.

Mahmood Khan further directed devising a regulatory mechanism and capacity building of the entities to effectively counter the disinformation campaigns on social media.

Moreover, the chief minister asked police to re-launch aggressive campaign against narcotics across the province after the local bodies’ polls further directing them to identify all those involved in the supply of drugs in educational institutions so that stern actions could be initiated against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2021.