Over 3,000 polling stations in Karachi declared highly sensitive

The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Sindh chapter has declared 3,108 polling stations highly sensitive from a total of 5,336 polling stations in the province.

Moreover, the ECP has also issued a pocket guide for the security personnel deployed for duty on the polling day.

Officials said the provincial EC has issued a list of highly sensitive, sensitive and normal polling stations within Karachi Range and said there were about 5,336 polling stations in which only 149 were declared as normal.

In District Malir there were about 562 polling stations, of which 15 polling stations have been declared as normal, while 169 as highly sensitive and 378 as sensitive. In District Korangi, of 752 polling stations none has been declared as normal, while 582 has declared as highly sensitive and 170 as sensitive.

Officials said the best district declared as mostly normal is District East as of 910 polling stations it had 134 polling stations as normal, while it had 466 as highly sensitive and 310 as sensitive. Interestingly, none of the polling stations in District South is declared as normal out of a total of 585 polling stations. In District South 279 polling stations have been declared as highly sensitive while 306 as sensitive.

In District Keamari of 596 polling stations 251 have been declared as highly sensitive while 345 as sensitive. In District West there are 547 polling stations and none has been declared as normal or sensitive. All 547 polling stations have been declared as highly sensitive. In District Central of 1,255 polling stations none has been declared as normal while it contains 685 as highly sensitive and 570 as sensitive.

Officials said the Sindh ECP has been informed that in Karachi 46,000 personnel will perform duty on the polling day, including 16,264 at most sensitive polling station and 18,048 at sensitive polling stations.

The ECP has also issued a pocket guide for the security personnel that includes “Do’s and Don’ts for security staff”. The personnel have been directed to be present at the place of duty all time, maintain law and order at the polling station, not to behave harshly or rudely, or show dislike against any voters. Security personnel should not demonstrate and avoid using personal mobiles while on duty with polling staff and DROs/ROs.

Different forms of illegal activities, and all the following electoral offences fall under the jurisdiction of the session judge of the concerned district. These are any measures intended to harm or harm the voter in general, or actions that may delay or affect the voting process.

Every such act counts as violence and turmoil, suicide attack or bomb blast or of any kind of terrorism.

The guide is for security personnel belonging to law enforcement agencies (except armed forces and civil armed forces for which separate code of conduct has been issued) for general elections 2024. Police personnel and other security personnel will remain impartial and perform their duties within the scope of the mandate assigned to them as per law and assist the Election Commission for the peaceful conduct. They will all be stationed outside polling stations, ensure a safe environment and maintain law and order. During the delivery of ballot papers from the printing press to the offices of returning officers, they will provide security. Also, security for the transportation of polling bags from the offices of returning officers to the polling stations and the security of presiding officers will be ensured.

After the completion of the polling and counting process at the polling stations and till the transfer and collection of election records to the offices of the returning officers, the announcement of the provisional results and the preparation of the final results by the returning officer, security will be provided.

“We will assist the Presiding Officer in discharging his legal duties smoothly and effectively as maintaining law and order at the polling station is the primary responsibility of the Presiding Officer and any person involved in violation of rules or any legal order at the polling station can be thrown out of the polling station. During the election process in general and during the voting process in particular, they shall remain neutral and shall not do any work for or against any political party or candidate and the administration.”