17 parties demand: Sindh govt seeks army deployment for polls
5,500 polling stations in the province declared sensitive.
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Zahid Kurban Alavi presides over the APC at Sindh Secretariat. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI:
Following the demand of political parties to deploy the armed forces in Karachi during the upcoming elections, the interim Sindh government has officially sought the help of the army to hold free and fair elections in the province.
The demand, made at an All Parties Conference (APC) chaired by interim chief minister of Sindh Justice (retd) Zahid Kurban Alvi, followed detailed discussions between 23 participating parties and the caretaker setup on the deteriorating security situation in the province.
Briefing the media after the APC, Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Iijaz Chaudhry said that the interim government had officially sought the help of the army through a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “A letter has been written to the chief election commissioner on April 28 asking the ECP to put the army on standby. The military is on high alert as of Tuesday and will act as a back-up force in every district headquarter. District administration and presiding officers will be able to call on the army whenever required,” he revealed.
He further revealed that 5,500 polling stations had been declared sensitive in the province. Of these, 3,000 polling stations were in Karachi, he added. “We have made extra security arrangements for sensitive polling stations with the installation of CCTV cameras inside these polling stations, which will allow monitoring of all movement during election time,” he said.
Chaudhry reiterated that rangers would be deployed at sensitive polling stations, while “motorcycles will be provided to law enforcement agencies to provide easy access to congested and remote areas.” The chief secretary added that political parties had been asked to remove graffiti from the city walls because it has been banned. Sounding a note of caution, he said, “We are waiting for political parties’ response to the request or else the district administration will act against it.”
He added that the government had divided its plan into three categories. “First it has to maintain the law and order before the election is held, second it has to ensure safe supply of election material to polling stations, and third it must ensure security at the time of polling,” informed Chaudhry.
The chief secretary added that not only were the ballot boxes being printed under the supervision of the army, but personnel of the armed forces would also be used to ensure supply of the material back to the election commission. “This will be done to ensure the transparency of the elections,” he added.
Earlier, 17 political and religious parties had come together at the APC to demand, in writing, the deployment of military personnel at every polling station on election day as a prerequisite for holding free and fair elections on May 11.
While many parties concurred with the request for the deployment of the army at polling stations, two major parties in the provinc, namely Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were conspicuous in their indecision.
PPP and MQM leaders said the civilian government should make police and rangers capable enough to handle the conduct of transparent elections, ensuring a peaceful Election Day.
However, the ANP endorsed the idea, saying, “We are not in favour of handing over the entire city to the armed forces, but there is nothing wrong if the army is deployed inside polling stations on Election Day.”
Parties that demanded deployment of the army include Jamaat-e Islami, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F), Awami Tahreek, Jamiat Ulema-e Pakistan (JUP), Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), Sunni Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, among others.
Following the three hour long meeting, caretaker information minister Noorul Huda Shah said, “All political parties have ensured implementation of the code of conduct in letter and spirit, while the government will try to provide maximum security to contesting candidates.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2013.
Following the demand of political parties to deploy the armed forces in Karachi during the upcoming elections, the interim Sindh government has officially sought the help of the army to hold free and fair elections in the province.
The demand, made at an All Parties Conference (APC) chaired by interim chief minister of Sindh Justice (retd) Zahid Kurban Alvi, followed detailed discussions between 23 participating parties and the caretaker setup on the deteriorating security situation in the province.
Briefing the media after the APC, Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Iijaz Chaudhry said that the interim government had officially sought the help of the army through a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “A letter has been written to the chief election commissioner on April 28 asking the ECP to put the army on standby. The military is on high alert as of Tuesday and will act as a back-up force in every district headquarter. District administration and presiding officers will be able to call on the army whenever required,” he revealed.
He further revealed that 5,500 polling stations had been declared sensitive in the province. Of these, 3,000 polling stations were in Karachi, he added. “We have made extra security arrangements for sensitive polling stations with the installation of CCTV cameras inside these polling stations, which will allow monitoring of all movement during election time,” he said.
Chaudhry reiterated that rangers would be deployed at sensitive polling stations, while “motorcycles will be provided to law enforcement agencies to provide easy access to congested and remote areas.” The chief secretary added that political parties had been asked to remove graffiti from the city walls because it has been banned. Sounding a note of caution, he said, “We are waiting for political parties’ response to the request or else the district administration will act against it.”
He added that the government had divided its plan into three categories. “First it has to maintain the law and order before the election is held, second it has to ensure safe supply of election material to polling stations, and third it must ensure security at the time of polling,” informed Chaudhry.
The chief secretary added that not only were the ballot boxes being printed under the supervision of the army, but personnel of the armed forces would also be used to ensure supply of the material back to the election commission. “This will be done to ensure the transparency of the elections,” he added.
Earlier, 17 political and religious parties had come together at the APC to demand, in writing, the deployment of military personnel at every polling station on election day as a prerequisite for holding free and fair elections on May 11.
While many parties concurred with the request for the deployment of the army at polling stations, two major parties in the provinc, namely Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were conspicuous in their indecision.
PPP and MQM leaders said the civilian government should make police and rangers capable enough to handle the conduct of transparent elections, ensuring a peaceful Election Day.
However, the ANP endorsed the idea, saying, “We are not in favour of handing over the entire city to the armed forces, but there is nothing wrong if the army is deployed inside polling stations on Election Day.”
Parties that demanded deployment of the army include Jamaat-e Islami, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F), Awami Tahreek, Jamiat Ulema-e Pakistan (JUP), Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), Sunni Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, among others.
Following the three hour long meeting, caretaker information minister Noorul Huda Shah said, “All political parties have ensured implementation of the code of conduct in letter and spirit, while the government will try to provide maximum security to contesting candidates.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2013.