Strategising: CCPO spells out security plan for three districts

Says multiple police officials will be transferred to ensure transparency during elections.

PESHAWAR:

The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar has ordered the transfers of multiple police officials in Nowshera, Charsadda and Peshawar in order to ensure transparency in the polls.

CCPO Liaqat Ali, while talking to Express News, said the transfer orders of a number of SHOs and several other officials have also been issued and an election cell has been established at Peshawar Police Lines.

Ali said they were striving hard to provide security to both voters and candidates. “We carry out search operations in the city outskirts and Frontier Region Peshawar daily in order to avoid any untoward incident. We have arrested several suspects in these crackdowns,” he claimed.



Talking about the security plans, the CCPO said May 10, 11 and 12 will be the most important days. “We will seal Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar for the three days and strictly monitor all entry and exit points of these districts,” he informed.

As every candidate is allowed to keep five guards for their security, the police chief said it would be better if the candidates keep personal guards instead of policemen. This way the policemen tasked with candidate security can be deployed elsewhere to implement a more foolproof security system.

CCPO Ali went on to add the contesting candidates have been asked to provide copies of Computerised National Identity Cards and photographs of their guards to the relevant police stations. “After these guards have cleared background and security checks, they will be issued special identity cards,” he explained.

The chief also revealed that it was decided in a high-level meeting that retired Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary personnel would be provided to candidates who do not wish to hire personal guards.

Candidates have asked for security at their election campaign offices as well, the CCPO said. Security will be provided during corner meetings. He added, however, the police workforce was not enough to cover larger gatherings.

Pakistan Qaumi Razakar, Forest Guards, Special Police Force and police officials would be deployed in Nowshera, Peshawar and Charsadda on May 11, Ali said.

A security plan will also be chalked out later to guard police stations, government installations and polling stations in these districts, the CCP stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.