LAHORE: A delegation of the Election Commission of Pakistan, led by its Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, visited the control room of the Punjab Police established at the Central Police Office for the by-elections and reviewed arrangements made by police to maintain law and order during the by-polls.

Speaking on the occasion, the election commission secretary said the Punjab Police and the district administration should ensure strict implementation of the code of conduct of the election commission. He added that timely response of the deployed personnel should also be ensured.

Omar Hamid Khan said indiscriminate action should be taken against the violators of the election code of conduct and the polling process should not be allowed to be affected in any way.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan briefed the election commission delegation on the law and order situation and security arrangements.

Seeks implementation of code of conduct; IGP says all set for polling

The delegation expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by police for the by-elections.

The IGP told the delegation that more than 52,000 security personnel had been deployed in the by-election districts and the best coordination had been ensured with the district returning officers. He said surety bonds had been taken from more than 1,100 candidates and workers of political parties and police would take immediate action for violating the code of conduct.

Other police higher-ups also gave a detailed briefing to the delegation about the security arrangements in 14 districts.

The delegation included Provincial Election Commissioner Saeed Gul and other officers of the election commission while Additional IG Operations Sahibzada Shahzad Sultan, AIG Operations Umar Saeed Malik and other police officers were also present.

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting on the security arrangements for the by-polls at the Central Police Office, the IGP said preparations had been completed for peaceful holding of by-elections in 20 constituencies of 14 districts.

Mr Khan asked the police officers to discharge their national responsibility with complete integrity and impartiality during the polling. He said the field officers would be responsible for their own personal conduct and any kind of negligence and abuse of authority would not be tolerated. Control rooms had been activated to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of all matters related to security and public order, he said and added that women police officers would perform security duties for the convenience of women voters and polling staff.

The IGP said indiscriminate action would be taken against those who would exhibit weapons, pull down banners and opponents’ camps and fight. He said security was being ensured at more than 3,100 polling stations in 20 constituencies of the province. He added that anti-riot force and elite force would be on alert in every constituency.

Rao Sardar Ali Khan pledged full support to the election commission in holding the by-polls. He said police flag marches had been organised in the constituencies of the by-elections and special measures had been taken for peaceful conduct of the elections in the provincial capital Lahore and Multan.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022