Interior ministry to review poll security

With the Punjab Assembly by-elections entering the penultimate round, Interior Minister Rana Sanaulllah Khan has convened a meeting to review security arrangements for the polls.

The interior minister rang up Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan on Friday and held a discussion over the measures being taken for security ahead of the polls.

He convened the review meeting at the Interior Ministry which will be attended by the officials of the ministry, security departments and chief secretary Sindh through video link, said a news release.

Voters will head to the polls on July 17 (Sunday) in 20 constituencies including PP-7, PP-83, PP-90, PP-97, PP-125, PP-127, PP-140, PP-158, PP-167, PP-168, PP-170, PP-202, PP-217, PP-224, PP-228, PP-237, PP-272, PP-273, PP-282 Layyah and PP-288.

It is pertinent to note that on Thursday the ECP had sought the army’s deployment in five of the 20 constituencies — four in Lahore and one in Multan.

In a letter written to the Punjab chief secretary and the police chief, the ECP said it had come to its notice that armed personnel were present in different constituencies, including Lahore, which was likely to influence and jeopardise the conduct of the upcoming by-elections, besides being a precursor to violence. The watchdog declared several constituencies as ‘sensitive’.

(With Input from APP)