Election Commission to seek services of over 600,000 govt officials and thousands of law enforcers. PHOTO: FILE
Election authorities are poised to unveil their proposed “master plan” regarding administrative and security protocol for the upcoming general elections at a high-level meeting today (Wednesday).
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed seeking services of over 600,000 government officials as polling staff and thousands of law enforcement personnel, including the army, in a bid to maintain law and order during the 2013 polls.
The meeting – to be attended by top officials including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs and information; chiefs and home secretaries of all provinces; directors general Rangers and Frontier Corps; and all inspectors general of police – would discuss in detail the administrative and security arrangements required for the general elections.
According to the policy paper available with The Express Tribune, the ECP would require the services of 600,000 civil servants, predominantly from the education department, to act as polling staff at around 80,000 polling stations to be set up across the country.
“The ECP is finalising necessary arrangements for the upcoming general elections; however, equal responsibility has to be shared by the provincial governments and the federal government to the extent of administrative and security responsibilities falling in their domain,” ECP’s policy paper said quoting the contents of the chief election commissioner’s (CEC) speech he would be delivering at the meeting today.
Security plans
The commission will direct authorities to use the entire law enforcement apparatus of the state to ensure peaceful atmosphere during the election campaign, on the polling day, and till announcement of the consolidated results by the returning officers.
While the primary responsibility for security and peaceful elections will rest with the provincial police, the paramilitary forces (FC and Rangers) and the constabularies (Frontier Constabulary, Balochistan Constabulary), will also be deployed along with the police.
Army’s role
The Pakistan Army will be asked to perform and share additional responsibilities by acting in aid of the civil administration in accordance with the requirements to be identified by the provincial governments, according to the plan.
Monitoring teams
The district returning officers (DRO) will constitute monitoring teams for each constituency out of the lists of employees belonging to the provincial governments and the federal government who would ensure implementation of the ECP code of conduct.
Fata
While judicial officers will be acting as DROs and returning officers (RO) in districts, the political agents and assistant political agents will perform the duties of the DROs and ROs respectively in Fata.
Likewise, while the district police officers (DPO) will prepare the security plan for the districts, the respective commandants of the Frontier Corps will prepare the security plans in Fata in consultation with the political agents.
Polling stations at IDP camps
Due to the precarious law and order situation in some parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been established outside the constituency.
Polling stations will be set up at such camps for which the Ministry of SAFRON would be asked extend all possible assistance to the ROs and the ECP.
International observers
A large number of international observers are expected to visit Pakistan to observe the 2013 general elections. The ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of interior in collaboration with ministry of information would be directed to ensure that international observers are facilitated and taken care of properly.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2013.
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