Feb 8 Elections: Sindh becomes a Sensitive Province

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Feb 8 Elections: Sindh becomes a Sensitive Province

January 26, 2024

Out of 19,006 polling stations in Sindh, 6531 have been identified as sensitive and 6496 highly sensitive – Chief Minister

133,000 Force including Police, Rangers and Army to be deployed to guard 19006 polling stations in Sindh

Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (R) Maqbool Baqar has said that a general election is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024, for electing 61 members for the national and 130 members for the provincial assemblies for which a security force comprising 133,000 policemen, Rangers and Pak Army will be deployed to guarantee the election’s transparency, fairness, and freedom.

This he said while addressing a press conference after presiding over a meeting to review the arrangements of the forthcoming general election here at CM House on Thursday. He was accompanied by Minister Home Brig (R) Haris Nawaz, Minister Information Ahmad Shah and others.

He added that there would be 19,006 polling stations of them 6531 were sensitive and 6496 highly sensitive. “I had a detailed meeting with the Chief Secretary, IG Police and DG Rangers in which all divisional commissioners and DIGs and provincial election commissioner, Sindh participated,” he said and added that the overall law and order situation, provision of missing facilities and arrangement of security staff, were discussed threadbare.

After the security audit the police have worked out a requirement of 109,000 police force against which 105,000 were available and there was a shortfall of 4000 policemen, the CM said and added that the shortfall would be met by the auxiliary force of the provincial government such as anti-encroachment force, Excise police, anti-corruption, Civil Defense, and frontier constabulary. Apart from the police, 10,000 Rangers and 14,000 Pak Army personnel would also perform election duty, he said.

The CM said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has trained policemen as master trainers and they [Master Trainers] would further train the remaining officials and auxiliary force. He added that an Election Cell has been established in Central Police Office (CPO) which was working round the clock.

At CPO, a complaint redressing and information sharing with others concerned against have been started, he said and added that control room has also been established at CPO which was in close coordination and liaison with the Control Room of the Ministry of Interior.

To a question, the CM said that the districts which had a history of violence in the last few elections have been termed as sensitive where necessary measures have been taken to keep the situation normal during the Election Day.

To another question, the CM said that in his review meeting, he got an update from the Commissioners about the repair of schools where polling stations were being established. He added that almost all the school buildings have been repaired and provided with the necessary facilities. “Even then, the chief secretary has been assigned to get verification certificates from all the commissioners for repair of the schools,” he said.

To a query, the CM said that the provincial Election Commissioner told him in the meeting that printing of the ballot papers has been started. “We would help the ECP to ensure safe and secure transportation of ballot papers to their destinations well in time,” he said.

The CM said that Provincial Election Commissioner Sharifullah told him that the arrangements for the Feb 8, general election were complete and the provincial, divisional and district administration was supporting the ECP to their best.

The CM told the media that the vehicles provided to the election staff were in good condition. “We would also ensure to provide uninterrupted electricity, transport, proper security, water, sanitation and such other facilities to all the polling stations,” he said and added that in the vicinity of polling stations an ambulance equipped with necessary equipment and doctors, fire tenders would be deployed.

CM Baqar told that the provincial election commissioner was satisfied with the support, necessary help and facilitation extended by the Sindh government. ‘Internally, we would keep the arrangements reviewing so that everything must sound and safe,” he concluded.

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