Pre-election violence: PM tells Sindh to beef up security

Accepts provincial government’s request for three helicopters for poll-day surveillance.

KARACHI:

Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has directed the Sindh administration to put in place security arrangements at election camps and offices of political parties to ensure safety of candidates in the run-up to the May 11 polls.

During a meeting at the Governor House on the law and order situation in Karachi on Friday, the caretaker premier stressed the need to have a proper security plan so that free and fair elections could be held without the threat of untoward incidents.

“We are here to facilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold free and fair elections. We’ll hand over governance to the upcoming democratic set-up,” he said.

The meeting decided to make a coordination committee, comprising representatives of intelligence agencies, police and Rangers, that will share intelligence and make effective strategies to avoid poll-related violence.

“I need coordinated efforts to chalk out a joint strategy with the help of intelligence agencies to deal with the current volatile situation in some cities, including Karachi,” Khoso said.

The provincial government requested the caretaker premier for three helicopters for surveillance on the  election day, which he approved.

Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Aijaz Chaudhry also presented a detailed security plan prepared by the provincial government to implement the code of conduct for  next month’s elections.

The plan, the chief secretary said, has been shared with the chief election commissioner, (CEC) Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim.

“The plan has been approved by the CEC,” he added.

As a part of the election plan, Premier Khoso also directed the federal ministry of water and power to ensure an uninterrupted power supply in the country from May 10 to May 12.

“The election process should continue without any disturbance,” Prime Minister Khoso said.

The caretaker prime minister was also briefed about an all-party conference (APC) being convened on April 30 by the Sindh government.

Leaders of mainstream political parties and foreign observers would be invited to discuss the code of conduct and security measures to be taken by the government on the polling day, the prime minister was told.

Measles outbreak in the country

At a separate meeting, Prime Minister Khoso expressed his alarm over the measles outbreak in the country.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr Sania Nishter told him that poor routine immunisation coverage in the country has caused the outbreak in different parts of the country.

Khoso stressed upon the need for an interprovincial meeting to control the disease. He directed Health Minister Nishter to take speedy measure to combat the disease.

“I suggest organising an interprovincial meeting about measles immediately, inviting health experts and other concerned stakeholders,” Khoso said.

“The recommendations [from the interprovincial meeting] should be forwarded to me so that timely action can be taken against the disease,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2013.