HYDERABAD, Feb 14: Army troops would be on standby to aid civil administration in case situation gets out of police and Rangers’ control during the election campaign or on the polling day, confirmed Regional Police Officer (RPO) Hyderabad Region Fayyaz Leghari on Thursday.

They would be in addition to 30,000 personnel of police and Rangers to be deployed in 13 districts of the region, he said.

A total of 925 polling stations had been declared highly sensitive, 1,790 sensitive out of a total of 5,702 polling stations to be set up in the region.

“They will, however, be patrolling areas and conducting flag marches,” said RPO.

Police authorities are going through a realignment phase of deployment of police and rangers after recent violence, which broke out in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in Dadu, Nawabshah and Umerkot.

In Thatta and Dadu PPP-backed candidates complain against police authorities for posting and transfers of their favourites. “We will try to ensure adequate security arrangements on Feb 18 and see to it that no untoward incident takes place,” the RPO said.

Repeated statements of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, asking PPP workers to remain present outside every polling station on Feb 18 are casue of concern for authorities.

Even Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan said that such statements could lead to trouble in case of victory of either side because it would also encourage others to be show strength outside polling stations.

Army troops would be put on standby in every district and would take no time coming to help after receiving a request in writing from the DPO concerned.

Police would continue patrolling with half a dozen personnel in each vehicle and would try not to allow voters to stay outside polling stations after they cast votes, he said.

“We will try our level best to avert any showdown in any part of the region on the election day. We will go with a proactive approach on Feb 18,” Mr Leghari said.

He was optimistic that political parties would exercise restraint on the polling day and informed that vehicles would not be allowed to be parked in close proximity of polling stations.

The RPO said that one mobile would take care of ten polling stations in the given area. “There will be a close liaison between police, rangers and army officials”, he said.