The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided that officials of various departments and civil defence volunteers will support the police force under the supervision of district police officers in the forthcoming general elections as the province was facing a shortfall of 56,000 personnel for security duty.
In addition to that, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be also installed at all highly sensitive polling stations as the entire process will be strictly monitored.
The decisions were taken during a meeting held under the chairmanship of K-P Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan to discuss preparations for the elections.
During the meeting, special measures for the preparations, security issues, and overall arrangements for the elections in the province were thoroughly reviewed.
Additional chief secretary home department, secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, regional and district police officers were in attendance.
The security and overall arrangements for the general elections were reviewed in detail.
The meeting was informed that funds for different facilities at polling stations were being provided by the provincial government.
The chief secretary emphasised the need to ensure uninterrupted elections in snowbound districts and complete adherence to the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Read 115,500 policemen to perform election duty
Expressing satisfaction over the progress, the chief secretary highlighted transparent elections as a top priority.
He urged all officers to conduct the elections honestly, emphasising their role in national duty and full support to the ECP.
The chief secretary directed the clearance of routes for the delivery of election materials in snowbound districts and to ensure the availability of necessary machinery and equipment.
Coordination between the department of tourism, local government, C&W, Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority, and others in snowbound areas was stressed.
Earlier, Nadeem conducted a visit of various schools and polling stations in Charbagh, Swat district.
IGP, Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Abid Majeed, Malakand Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ali Khan, Swat Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan, and District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur were also present.
The chief secretary reviewed the CCTV cameras and other polling arrangements, where he was also briefed on security arrangements, entry, and exit routes for voters on the polling day.
He directed swift completion of preparations and arrangements at polling stations, with special attention to security to address any untoward incident.
He stressed that all necessary facilities should be provided at the polling stations.
On Dec 10, caretaker K-P Chief Minister Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah said that the province was short of around 56,000 security personnel for the upcoming general elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2024.
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