Daily Times

LAHORE: Transparent elections are a preference of caretaker government for which all civil and police officers should perform their duties and utilise all their potential to maintain law and order during the elections.

These views were expressed by Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani while addressing the senior officers of Central Police Office on Friday. The chief secretary added that the leadership of Punjab police includes able, dutiful and industrious officers, capable to produce best results. He said that transfers and postings on huge scale in civil and police departments have been done across Punjab in order to make process of election impartial.

On this occasion, IG Punjab Dr Syed Kalim Imam vowed that Punjab police is completely alert to conduct transparent elections in the province peacefully and also to implement the election code of conduct issued by Election Commission of Pakistan which will be ensured at any cost. He said that comprehensive strategies are being devised under the supervision of RPOs and DPOs in order to provide security during election campaigns and processions at polling day. He said that display of weapons and aerial firing during election congregations, corner meetings and scaremongers in public will be dealt strictly and officers who commit negligence or mistake in this regard will not be spared.

In the beginning of the session, a fateha was offered for the martyrs of police and in the end IG Punjab presented a souvenir to the chief secretary from Punjab police.

Separately, IGP Syed Kalim Imam while directing the RPOs via video link conference and other senior officers said that no individual is allowed to keep armed gunmen with him without seeking prior approval from district intelligence committee and there will be no delay in taking action against those who are found responsible for this.

He said that if any candidate needs to keep a gunman with him, then he requires approval from district intelligence committee. After the approval from the committee gunman of fair character attested by respective police station may be kept. He directed the officers that all available resources should be utilised for security of more than 6,000 sensitive polling stations and deployment of Elite Force with patrolling of commandos.

Efficient patrolling system of Dolphin, PERU and other forces should be ensured in busy areas of election activity. He also instructed tO ensure best coordination with officials of other relevant departments and directed RPOs to ensure effective security of women polling stations.

The IG Punjab further said that during the election campaign, ban on wall chalking and ban on broadcast and publication of hate material should be ensured. Effective implementation of amplifier act and tenant registration should also be ensured, he said, adding that proper logistic arrangement should be done for the personnel deployed on election duty in other districts of the province.

The system of intelligence should be made effective with the help of relevant DPOs and district security branches. Seniors officers should ensure daily visits of police stations in order to monitor their professional working. Strict checking should be ensured at the provincial check-posts.

Published in Daily Times, June 30^th 2018.