Sindh govt, ECP satisfied with arrangements for elections: Baqar

Sindh’s caretaker chief minister on Thursday said a security force of 133,000 police, Rangers and army officials would be deployed to guarantee transparency, fairness and freedom in the February 8 general elections for 61 seats of the National Assembly and 130 of the provincial assembly.

Addressing a press conference after chairing a meeting at the CM House to review the election arrangements, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar said the interim government of Sindh is making all-out efforts to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the province.

Baqar said that there would be 19,006 polling stations, of which 6,496 are highly sensitive and 6,531 sensitive. He said he had held a detailed meeting with the chief secretary, and the provincial police and Rangers chiefs.

He also said that all the divisional commissioners and DIGs, and the provincial election commissioner attended the meeting as well. The overall law and order situation, the provision of missing facilities and the arrangement of security staff, if necessary, were discussed, he added.

Baqar said that after a security audit, the police have concluded that 109,000 police officials would be required, while 105,000 are already available, so there is a shortfall of 4,000 officials.

He said the shortfall would be met by the auxiliary force of the provincial government: the anti-encroachment force, the excise police, the Anti-Corruption Establishment, the Civil Defence and the Frontier Constabulary. Moreover, he added, 10,000 Rangers and 14,000 army soldiers would also perform election duties.

He also said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has trained selected policemen as master trainers, who would train the remaining officials and the auxiliary force. An election cell has been established at the Central Police Office (CPO) that is working round the clock, he added.

The caretaker CM said that a cell for complaint resolution and information sharing with other relevant authorities has been set up at the CPO. A control room has also been established at the CPO that is working in close coordination and liaison with the interior ministry’s control room, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the districts with a history of violence during elections have been termed sensitive and where necessary measures have been taken to keep the situation normal on Election Day.

Responding to another query, he said that in his review meeting the divisional commissioners updated him on repairs at the schools where polling stations are being established.

He added that almost all the school buildings have been repaired and provided with the necessary facilities. After all of that, he pointed out, the CS has been tasked with getting verification certificates from all the commissioners for the repairs at the schools.

To another question, Baqar said provincial election commissioner Sharifullah had told him in the meeting that the printing of the ballot papers has been started. “We’ll help the ECP ensure safe and secure transportation of the ballot papers to their destinations on time.”

He said the election commissioner had told him that the arrangements for the elections are complete, and the provincial, divisional and district administrations are supporting the ECP to the best of their abilities.

The interim CM told the media that the vehicles provided to the election staff are in good condition. “We’ll also ensure uninterrupted electricity, transport, proper security, water, sanitation and other facilities to all the polling stations.”

He said that in the vicinity of the polling stations an ambulance equipped with the necessary equipment and doctors, as well as fire engines would be deployed.

He also said the election commissioner is satisfied with the support, necessary help and facilitation extended by the caretaker provincial government. “Internally, we’ll keep reviewing the arrangements so that everything is safe and sound.”