Law enforcers secure polling stations, conduct joint flag march

Law enforcement agencies and the Pakistan Army have started securing the polling stations in Sindh, especially in Karachi, and also conducted a flag march in highly sensitive areas.

Officials said on Wednesday District SSP Syed Irfan Ali Bahadur visited the Expo Centre to review the security arrangements in his district. He was accompanied by DC Altaf Hussain Sheikh and officers and employees of the Pakistan Army. A thorough security check was conducted in and around the Expo Centre.

They also visited the control room set up for the elections. The SSP later visited various polling stations in the district.

SSP Bahadur said the police were fully alert and no person or persons would be allowed to take the law into their hands. Moreover, strict action would be taken against those who disturbed law and order during the elections.

Apart from that, the Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a notification that any kind of campaigning will be banned within 400 metres of the polling station on February 8, and here will be ban on putting up notices, symbols, banners or flags within 100 metres.

The spokesman said there would be a ban on convincing voters to vote, pleading with them to vote or not and campaigning for a particular candidate, while candidates will be able to camp 400 metres away from the polling station in rural areas and 100 metres away in densely populated urban areas.

Officials said the security arrangements of the Rangers, Pakistan Army and Sindh police had been completed. The Rangers have deployed troops at all important places. Around 10,000 Rangers personnel have been deployed in Karachi and the interior of Sindh: 6,000 personnel will perform duties in Karachi and 4,000 in interior Sindh. Moreover, 440 Quick Response Force troops have been deployed in Karachi, and 392 troops will be deployed in the interior of Sindh. The spokesman for the Sindh Rangers said the Quick Response Force will consist of two Rangers mobiles and motorcycle squads. The Rangers and Pakistan Army personnel will also patrol different places.

The deployment is also being made at the most sensitive polling stations in Karachi and the interior of Sindh. Rangers troops will also be deployed at the DRO office to ensure security.

The security measures will remain tight till the voting process is completed. The Sindh Rangers spokesman said the Rangers had made strict security arrangements for the general elections to be held on February 8 across Sindh.

On Wednesday, Rangers along with army and police personnel conducted a joint flag march in different cities of the interior of Sindh, including Sukkur, SITE Area, Khairpur, Ranipur, Gumbat, Kingri, Kot Pir Sahib, Ghotki City, Obaru, Dharki, Qadirpur, Shikarpur City, and Khanpur University.

The flag march was carried out to ensure security measures in the area of responsibility related to the general elections.

Sindh Rangers DG Major General Azhar Waqas issued strict orders to maintain law and order and rule of law and order across the province, including Karachi.