Preparing for elections: ROs call for deployment of army on May 11

Hyderabad commissioner complains that his office lacks funds for the election process.

HYDERABAD:

The district returning officers from the nine districts in Hyderabad division have demanded stringent security measures on the day of elections. They called for the deployment of two Rangers personnel along with police at each polling station in addition to a ‘visible’ presence of the army.

There are 15 National Assembly and 29 Sindh Assembly constituencies in the division with over 4,500 polling stations. The Sindh Member of Election Commission of Pakistan Justice (R) Roshan Ali Esani, Regional Election Commissioner Attaur Rehman, Hyderabad Commissioner Riaz Memon, Hyderabad DIG Ranger and officials of army and Rangers were among those who attended the meeting.

An army official reportedly assured the election officials that the citizens will feel the military’s presence in every district. “There will be a quick response force in every district so that we can provide a sense of security to the people,” the official was quoted as saying.

The Hyderabad commissioner told the ECP’s Sindh member that his office lacks the funds required for the election process. “We are being given the same amount which was given to the administration in the 2008 elections.”

Rehman, however, said that the commissioner has been asked to submit a detailed proposal about the election expenditures to the ECP.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Justice (R) Roshan Ali Esani said that he listened to the complaints and demands of the DROs and ROs, assuring that the election commission will try to address them before May 11. He said that the ECP has put in place a mechanism to check bogus voting. “We will cancel the election results of any constituency if we noticed that fake votes have been cast and are affecting the result.”

“It is not possible to hire a public transport vehicle for three days, provide for the fuel and other expenses for Rs3,000 as given by the ECP,” said Riaz Ahmed Memon. “The distance factor, especially in rural areas, also has to be considered.” He told The Express Tribune that a detailed proposal will be sumitted to the ECP officials on Sunday.

A sum of Rs5,000 per polling station for video recording facility and funds for movement of the army were also required.

Armed forces standing guard in Hyd

The armed forces have been deployed for election duties in Sindh starting Saturday. Troops from the garrisons of Hyderabad, Badin, Chor and Petaro were moved to Benazirabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Thatta, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiari and Sanghar districts. The process of stationing soldiers will continue over the next few days, according to the ISPR.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.