Security concerns: 240 polling stations ‘sensitive’

Reports compiled by intelligence agencies state 51 station as ‘most sensitive’.

HARIPUR:

As many as 240 polling stations in Haripur district have been declared ‘sensitive’ by law enforcement agencies and election authorities.

At a meeting on Tuesday, authorities promised uninterrupted and peaceful polling on May 11. Reports compiled by intelligence agencies, based on both the 2008 elections and the law and order situation of constituencies, stated 189 polling stations were ‘sensitive’ and 51 ‘most sensitive’.

Confirming the numbers, Haripur DPO Nabiur Rehman Bhagvi said the district’s police force just has 700 personnel. However, the police would ensure the maintenance of law and order at any cost, he added. “It (the police) would not allow miscreants to disrupt the process of free and fair elections in the district.”

For this purpose, a request has been made for the deployment of eight platoons of Frontier Constabulary personnel. According to the DPO, three teams of the Quick Response Force would remain on high alert at every police station in the district on May 11. The services of retired police personnel and scouts would also be at the disposal of the district police officer, assured Bhagvi.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2013.