Interim cabinet pores over security provisions

70% of the polling stations in the province declared ‘sensitive’.

PESHAWAR:

Providing security during the general elections was the main agenda under discussion during the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) interim cabinet’s first meeting on Thursday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, caretaker Information Minister Musarat Qadeem said the provincial election commission has declared around 70% of polling stations in K-P ‘sensitive’. The cabinet was told 6,512 of the total 9,284 polling stations were sensitive in terms of their security.

Talking about measures discussed by the cabinet, Musarat said the police would be their first choice for providing security at polling stations. However, the army could be called in if the need arose.

She said the federal government would be requested to return the 150 Frontier Constabulary platoons belonging to the province in order to help maintain law and order during the elections. She added the provincial government would spend Rs160 million on security measures.



Musarat said political parties being threatened by militants would also be provided security so they can fully participate in the upcoming elections.

The minister maintained the interim government would make all efforts to hold the polls on time and create an environment wherein voters can come to polling stations without fear.

The interim government has formulated 135 monitoring teams for the elections. Two teams will monitor polling for national and provincial assemblies in each district of the province. Teams will also be sent to the Frontier Regions and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“Holding elections in the tribal areas is the responsibility of the federal government and Fata Secretariat. However, we have decided the home department will facilitate the Fata Secretariat in conducting polling for tribesmen living in various camps for internally displaced persons,” said Musarat.

About reports of Afghan nationals possessing Pakistani National Identity Cards which can be used for voting, the minister said the cabinet has issued strict orders to concerned authorities to block all such cards so as to prevent their misuse.

According to a statement issued from the chief minister’s office, Justice (Retd) Tariq Pervez Khan reiterated his commitment to hold free and fair elections during his address to participants of the cabinet meeting.

Khan said hold impartial elections in the province was the constitutional obligation of the caretaker setup and they would leave no stone unturned to carry out this responsibility. “The role of caretaker government is that of a bridge in the smooth transfer of power from one elected government to another,” said the caretaker chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2013.