Daily Times

KARACHI: Inspector General Police (IGP) Amjad Javed Saleemi said that there was zero tolerance for miscreants and those who were trying to disrupt the electioneering process.

This he said, on Tuesday, during a meeting with Sindh caretaker Chief Minister (CM) Fazal-ur-Rehman. The meeting, held at CM House, was called to review the arrangements being made at polling stations for July 25 elections.

“Police have arrested 2185 troublemakers so far. We have zero tolerance for those who try to take the law in their hands,” said IGP Amjad Javed Saleemi while briefing the CM about security arrangements.

During the meeting, Chief Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleman told the CM that he along with IGP, a senior member of Board of Revenue (BOR) and Home Secretary visited almost all the districts of the city as well as all polling stations categorised as ‘most sensitive’. He said that they visited improvised polling stations as well and made all the necessary arrangements as per the requirements issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

He told the meeting that there were 5673 ‘most sensitive’ polling stations all over Sindh in which 20165 booths had been set up already. “As per decision of the cabinet CCTV cameras have been installed there,” he said adding that 21,000 cameras installed at polling stations had been tested for smooth and sound functioning.

Talking about 307 improvised polling stations, Major (retd) Azam Suleman said that they had been provided mobile wash room facilities, generators, UPS, LEDs and other required facilities. He said that water, refreshment and other such facilities were available at all polling stations.

Sindh Chief Secretary informed the caretaker CM that arrangements had been made to transport polling staff and election material to polling stations. He added that divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners were also lending their full support to the cause of holding ‘free, fair and transparent’ election.

The CS further informed the meeting that polling stations, polling staff and their supporting staff had been provided security.

“These security arrangements would continue till the staff goes home,” apprised Major (retd) Azam Suleman.

Concluding the meeting, CM Fazal-ur-Rehman directed district administration and police to remain vigilant and alert all over Sindh.

“I am quite happy that we have succeeded in making election arrangements. God willing, everything would go smoothly till the new government is elected,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue (BoR) Iqbal Durani, CM’s Principal Secretary Sohail Rajput and Home Secretary Mohammad Haroon.

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.