PESHAWAR: Keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home department has devised security guidelines for political parties and said that all gatherings should be held in broad daylight and should not exceed the assigned time limit.

“In wake of law and order situation in the province, it is felt that leadership of political parties should be sensitised to follow security guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) during campaigns for the protection of their workers,” said a notification issued by the home department here on Thursday.

It said that political party should file an application to the relevant deputy commissioner to get a no objection certification (NOC) for political activity, especially in case of larger gatherings where national level leadership was expected to arrive. It added that the application should contain a tentative fortnightly schedule of political gatherings inscribed with details of venue, timing and list of leaders besides the expected number of audience.

“The local leadership shall submit an affidavit to the effect that no road or street shall be blocked and no traffic hassle shall be created to cause public inconvenience,” said the notification. It added that party or candidates should share details with the district administration, enabling police to make necessary arrangements.

Home dept issues guidelines for holding public meetings

It said that no meetings by different political parties should take place on the same date, time and venue or at a place adjacent to the venue. It said that permission should be granted subject to clearance from law enforcement agencies. The NOC for holding meetings or political gatherings should be issued by the relevant deputy commissioner after observing all codal formalities, it added.

About identification of the venue, the home department ordered that the district administration in consultation with all stakeholders should identify and notify two or three suitable sites for political gatherings. It added that tehsil administration in consultation with all the stakeholders should identify and notify four to five sites after obtaining approval from district administration for holding public gathering.

It said that corner meetings should be held on closed premises, however, information of all such gatherings should be shared with the district administration and the local police station for provision of necessary security. It said that no political activities should be allowed in the buildings of government or semi-government or autonomous bodies, playgrounds, squares and roads.

The home department said that all the political gatherings should be held in broad daylight and should not exceed the assigned time limit. It added that in case of non-observance of the assigned timing, responsibility of any mishap would lie with the leadership of the relevant political party.

The notification said that that use of loudspeakers should be allowed for huge political gatherings at identified venues. It added loudspeakers should not be used near places of worship, hospitals and educational institutions.

It stated that there should not be hate speeches by any person or party. It said that there should be zero tolerance for any attempt to incite violence or resort to violence during meetings, political gatherings or processions. It also warned violators of strict administrative and legal action.

The home department said that defamatory and derogatory language should be avoided and political leaders must refrain from personal attacks on each other during speeches at rallies and elsewhere. It added that they should also discourage their followers from using any inappropriate remarks about political leaders and activists of other political parties.

“No posters, banners, boards, flags or any such material by any political party shall be affixed on government buildings, property, pole or wall structures,” said the notification. It added that no political party should allow its followers to make use of any individual’s private property without permission.

The home department said that security of political leaders and activists should be their own responsibility while police and Levies in district Malakand should be responsible for the overall security of the venue and the general public. It added that no personal security would be given to individuals except those, whose cases had been specifically approved by the provincial, divisional, district level committee under the policy.

The political leaders, activists and workers may, however, deploy uniformed private security guards having valid licensed arms with them for their security but the detailed information of such guards and weapons should be registered with the relevant police station and the police officers. “The deputy commissioner may be kept informed about all such security measures adopted,” said the notification.

It said that video recording of meetings and political gatherings or processions should be the responsibility of the organisers. It added that they should provide recordings of the videos to the relevant police station.

The SOPs, according to the notification, are complementary and any other guidelines issued by Election Commission of Pakistan or any other authority, institution of the government should also be adopted forthwith.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023