The Sindh Home Department has banned carrying and display of any kind of arms at public places in the province. According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the ban is in place with immediate effect till July 26, a day after the upcoming polls. “Exhibition of fire arms is also banned in and around polling stations,” read the notification. It further stated that strict action will be taken against those who violate the ban. The ban has been imposed 10 days before the General Election 2018 scheduled for July 25. Last week, while addressing a press conference, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor had said that troops will be stationed both inside and outside the polling stations on the day of elections. “Two security officials will be present inside and two outside 20,831 ‘sensitive’ polling stations,” the DG ISPR said, adding that deployment will be lower at non-sensitive polling stations. Published in Daily Times, July 16th 2018.