Electoral race: Preparations for LG elections under way

Officials discuss arrangements for polling

HYDERABAD: A high level official meeting was held on Monday in Hyderabad to discuss the security and other arrangements for the upcoming local government elections in the nine districts of Hyderabad division.

The regional election commissioner of Hyderabad, Aijaz Anwar Chohan, told officials that "no new development projects should be announced" to avoid influencing the voters. He also reiterated the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rules which bar the transfer and postings of officials until the election process is completed.

Chohan asked the officials to provide the lists of government buildings to be used as polling stations to the relevant returning officers (ROs), advising the latter to select "safe and suitable" places for the storage of election material.

The divisional commissioner of Hyderabad, Syed Asif Haider Shah, suggested that reserve polling staff should be arranged to deal with any shortage on election day. He also directed the deputy commissioners to establish emergency response cells in each district.

The commissioner advised the district returning officers (DROs) and ROs to select such buildings that are equipped with the required facilities. The Hyderabad DIG, Khadim Hussain Rind, said the DROs should check whether the selected stations have compound walls, which are vital for security.

The DIG directed the SSPs of all districts to identify the contesting candidates with criminal records to the ECP. He also asked the district-based election security committees, which have been formed by the ECP, to point out the very sensitive and sensitive polling stations as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2015.