Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A meeting held here on Thursday decided to deploy army personnel both inside and outside polling stations to ensure security during General Election 2018.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza, reviewed security arrangements for elections.

It was also decided that foolproof security would be provided during the printing of ballot papers.

Speaking to media after a meeting called by the commission at the central secretariat and attended by newly-appointed chief secretaries and IGPs of the four provinces, ECP spokesperson Nadeem Qasim said the army will be providing security between June 20 to June 27 for the printing and distribution of ballot papers.

While talking to the media later in the day, the director general of Election Commission of Pakistan’s media cell said closed-circuit television cameras would be installed at 20,000 sensitive polling stations across the country.

The ECP official said close coordination would also be maintained with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) to prevent untoward incidents.

Moreover, he added, it was decided that foolproof security would be provided to political leaders, for which provinces will make necessary arrangements.

The provincial government would also be responsible for the security of district returning officers, returning officers and presiding officers.

Earlier, the ECP on June 8 revised election schedule and extended the last day to submit nomination papers to June 11.

The electoral body had earlier said that the date for submission of nomination papers was extended to facilitate political parties.

The deadline to complete the scrutiny of nomination papers was changed from June 14 to June 19.

The last day to file appeals against any objection to the decisions of returning officers was extended till June 22.

The verdicts on appeals will be announced by June 27, after which, the revised list of candidates will be issued on June 28.

Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers on June 29, and the electoral body will announce the final list of candidates on the same day.

The electoral symbols will be issued to candidates on June 30. Polling will be conducted on July 25.

Published in Daily Times, June 15^th 2018.