All set for LG polls in Hazara division

Hazara Police deputed 13,000 policemen to make sure the upcoming local body elections is conducted safely and fairly on March 31st.

DIG Hazara Mirwais Niaz said “People should remain peaceful on the Election Day. Voting is your legal and national duty, please cooperate with polling staff and police to conduct the elections in a proper manner.”

District Police, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), FRF, Elite Force, CTD, Special Branch, Ladies Police and District Security Branch officials have also been deputed to all polling stations to avoid any untoward situation during the election.

DIG Hazara instructed DPOs, “Make sure officers periodically monitor sensitive polling stations while search and strike operations should be carried out in the surrounding areas.” DIG Niaz said, “The polling process should be started by clearing the polling station booths with the help of BDU squad and sniffer dogs. Niaz ordered the best accommodation and meals for the police force deployed on election duty. DIG Niaz also said, “The instructions issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan on the day of election should be strictly implemented and strict action should be taken against the show of arms, aerial firing, inciting speeches, chanting slogans and other violation of election code of conduct. The DPOs should instruct the officers on duty in their respective districts not to allow unauthorized persons in the polling stations, and only allow concerned persons and voters after a complete body search.”

He also said, “Mobile phones should not be used while on duty and use of bulletproof jackets and helmets should be ensured.”

Pakistan Army and Quick Response Force (QRF) teams would also support police force during the electoral process. More than 2,000 police force have been deployed at the 389 most sensitive polling stations in Hazara division.

Polling stations will be monitored through CCTV cameras, Zoom video calls and body-cameras at the offices of the Inspector General (IG) Police KPK Peshawar and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abbottabad. Regional police have also established control rooms in District Police Officer (DPO) offices and in the regional offices of seven districts.

Two local holidays announced

Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad issued notification of two holidays on Wednesday (today) and Thursday (tomorrow) for schools and colleges of the district to prepare for the upcoming local body elections 2022.

The notification said, “All government and private schools and colleges in the district will remain closed for two days on March 30 and 31. March 31st will be a public holiday.”

The district administration collaborated with the police and the district election commissioner to complete all arrangements, where the second phase of local body elections will be held on March 31, 2022. A heavy contingent of police has been deployed at all the polling stations.

Tehsil Havelian has been declared as the most sensitive because of its intense mayoral race between two candidates. Officials have prepared a high-alert security plan for Havelian and is closely monitoring the situation with the help of intelligence agencies. Security officials are focused on holding peaceful elections.

District Police Officer (DPO) and Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad and officials of intelligence agencies personally visited the polling stations of Havelian Tehsil several times to ensure security.

The administration is making every effort to ensure a peaceful environment where voters can exercise their voting right in a free and fair manner and that the election process is conducted in a transparent way.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2022.