Apex committee reviews election arrangements

Installation of CCTV cameras underway in polling stations, meeting informed

QUETTA:

The Balochistan Apex Committee, in its 15th meeting, Saturday reviewed the measures for holding peaceful General Elections in the province.

The Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki chaired the meeting while Commander-XII Corps Lieutenant General Rahat Naseem Ahmad Khan, Caretaker Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Mir Zubair Khan Jamali, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Saleem along with other high officials were participated in the meeting.

Chief Minister said that the personnel of army and FC Balochistan will also be present to support the police and levies force to restore peace at sensitive places during the elections.

He said the government would deliver election materials to polling stations in 28 districts of the province through road and the electoral material would be supplied through helicopter in eight far-flung districts.

The caretaker chief minister observed that it has been decided to call the line departments and retired security officers for security needs at normal polling stations in order to ensure deployment of security as required as short-term personnel services will also be procured for elections under the Police Act.

Read Election preparation reviewed

CM told the meeting that the required funds have been released to the deputy commissioners and police department for the arrangements of the election. Domki said the provincial government is determined to conduct transparent and fair elections in a peaceful environment in the province.

He emphasized that the people should exercise their right to vote without fear and full security would be ensured.

Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Saleem briefed the participants of the Apex Committee regarding the steps taken by the provincial government for conducting election. He told that an effective administrative strategy has been formulated to restore law and order situation and protect voters during the elections in the province.

Saleem said that the installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations is in progress, while a control room has also been established at the provincial level to review the situation and control rooms are being established at the district level as well.

He added that the provincial government has been released the preliminary budget for the deployment of police and Levies force in the electoral process. He said that the provincial government is committed and fully prepared to conduct peaceful elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2024.