Preparations in motion: Parties express concerns over security withdrawal
Quick response forces to man polling stations in K-P.
"We have decided the security personnel should be from the FC instead of private agencies," says Interim Information Minister. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
PESHAWAR:
Quick response forces (QRF) are to be deployed in every district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to man polling stations during the general elections.
“Keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the days immediately before and after the elections ,along with Election Day itself, QRFs will be ready to counter any untoward situations at polling stations throughout the province,” said caretaker Information Minister Mossarat Qadeem on Wednesday. The deployment of QRFs has already been discussed with the army, she added.
Briefing media personnel at the Officers Mess, Qadeem also said an all-parties conference (APC) which was earlier chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Justice (Retd) Tariq Pervez Khan was conducted in a congenial environment.
The APC was convened by the CM after the Yakatoot attack on Tuesday, in which 17 people were killed and 63 were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in an attempt to target an Awami National Party (ANP) corner meeting.
Qadeem said every political party, including the ANP and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), attended the conference.
During the APC, it was decided the K-P government will provide funds to hire five security guards and every election candidate in the province. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had allowed candidates to appoint five security guards from private agencies. However, the K-P government has instead decided to enlist the services of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) at its own expense. “We have decided the security personnel should be from the FC instead of private agencies,” Qadeem said.
Qadeem added the CM also requested political parties to mobilise their supporters 6-7 hours prior to any corner meetings, in order to ensure better security. The CM had said the parties should consider forming volunteer groups that would enforce security checks, such as identity conformation, during political gatherings. “Inform local police 48 hours before holding any public meeting so that better security arrangements can be made,” said Khan in the APC.
In light of suggestions given by participating parties during the conference, the CM also recommended participants refrain from hosting gatherings in closed or congested localities. Qadeem added PPP member Azam Afridi said the political parties would attempt to offer other security suggestions to the K-P government as well.
Qadeem said certain political parties expressed reservations over the temporary withdrawal of their security, but the CM assured them future security arrangements would be provided as soon as possible.
In an attempt to quell the deteriorating law and order situation in the tribal belt, the provincial government has also decided to station FC personnel along the border between K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). “The deployment of FC personnel is to ensure better surveillance of Fata and the issue has been taken up with the president,” said the information minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.
Quick response forces (QRF) are to be deployed in every district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to man polling stations during the general elections.
“Keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the days immediately before and after the elections ,along with Election Day itself, QRFs will be ready to counter any untoward situations at polling stations throughout the province,” said caretaker Information Minister Mossarat Qadeem on Wednesday. The deployment of QRFs has already been discussed with the army, she added.
Briefing media personnel at the Officers Mess, Qadeem also said an all-parties conference (APC) which was earlier chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Justice (Retd) Tariq Pervez Khan was conducted in a congenial environment.
The APC was convened by the CM after the Yakatoot attack on Tuesday, in which 17 people were killed and 63 were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in an attempt to target an Awami National Party (ANP) corner meeting.
Qadeem said every political party, including the ANP and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), attended the conference.
During the APC, it was decided the K-P government will provide funds to hire five security guards and every election candidate in the province. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had allowed candidates to appoint five security guards from private agencies. However, the K-P government has instead decided to enlist the services of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) at its own expense. “We have decided the security personnel should be from the FC instead of private agencies,” Qadeem said.
Qadeem added the CM also requested political parties to mobilise their supporters 6-7 hours prior to any corner meetings, in order to ensure better security. The CM had said the parties should consider forming volunteer groups that would enforce security checks, such as identity conformation, during political gatherings. “Inform local police 48 hours before holding any public meeting so that better security arrangements can be made,” said Khan in the APC.
In light of suggestions given by participating parties during the conference, the CM also recommended participants refrain from hosting gatherings in closed or congested localities. Qadeem added PPP member Azam Afridi said the political parties would attempt to offer other security suggestions to the K-P government as well.
Qadeem said certain political parties expressed reservations over the temporary withdrawal of their security, but the CM assured them future security arrangements would be provided as soon as possible.
In an attempt to quell the deteriorating law and order situation in the tribal belt, the provincial government has also decided to station FC personnel along the border between K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). “The deployment of FC personnel is to ensure better surveillance of Fata and the issue has been taken up with the president,” said the information minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.