Daily Times

Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Dr Hassan Askari has said that best security arrangements will be ensured on polling day and during election process.

Leading political leaders will also be provided box security, he added.

Addressing the meeting held at Circuit House, Faisalabad to review the arrangements related to law and order and upcoming general elections, the caretaker Punjab chief minister said that best possible arrangements will be made to provide peaceful atmosphere to the people on election day.

“The observance of code of conduct for transparent and neutral elections is imperative and consultation process with the political parties and candidates will be continued with regard to its implementation,” he said, adding that mechanism of digital monitoring of more than 14,000 polling stations set up in Sargodha, Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions has been devised and close monitoring will be observed through CCTVs. He said that incidents of aerial firing and fireworks will not be tolerated during the election campaign or on election day. Indiscriminate and prompt action will be taken in case of any complaint. According to the code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan, implementation on zero tolerance policy towards aerial firing and fireworks will be continued, he added.

Caretaker Punjab CM Dr Hassan Askari said that necessary steps will be taken for the convenience of voters and polling staff. Provision of physical infrastructure should be ensured on priority basis at polling stations. The relevant officers should examine the standard of facilities by visiting the polling stations and best possible arrangements should be ensured. Similarly, uninterrupted supply of electricity is also necessary on polling day. Necessary measures should also be initiated to deal with the situation arising due to possible rains.

The CM said that civil servants should exhibit their professional skills in an impartial manner and lend a hand in national obligation of holding general elections because ensuring transparent and impartial elections is not a duty but an obligation as well. This duty should be performed as team work in a professional manner, he said.

Earlier, commissioners and RPOs of Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Sargodha divisions gave detailed briefings about election related arrangements and law and order situation. It was informed that necessary arrangements have been completed at 1,800 sensitive polling stations of three divisions. Provincial Ministers Zia Haider Rizvi, Shaukat Javed, Secretary to CM, commissioners and RPOs of Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Sargodha divisions and others attended the meeting.

Published in Daily Times, July 19^th 2018.