KARACHI: The Sindh home ministry has issued security guidelines during campaigning by political parties for the coming general elections in which it explicitly said security of political leaders would be their own responsibility, it emerged on Wednesday.

“Security of political leaders shall be their own responsibility while the Sindh police shall be responsible for overall security of the locality or area or venue and persons or public,” said a document titled ‘Security guidelines or SOPs (standard operating procedures) or security protocols for political parties during general elections 2018’ notified on Tuesday.

“No personal security would be given to individuals or politicians except those whose cases have been specifically approved by the Provincial Threat Assessment Committee under the policy,” said a notification issued by the home ministry.

‘Security of leaders shall be their own responsibility’

It said the political leaders or activists or workers might however deploy uniformed private security guards having valid licensed arms with them for their security subject to the conditions that the detailed information of such guards and weapons “shall be registered with the police station concerned and the senior superintendents of police”.

Officials in the home ministry said the guidelines had been issued in light of the federal ministry of interior’s initiative to sensitise all the provinces to have a security protocol for the upcoming general elections.

“Such protocol should include guidelines for the political parties to secure their political power shows / corner meetings and to ensure security of their leaders,” said the notification.

It added that a meeting of the home secretary, inspector general of Sindh Police, all commissioners, all deputy inspectors general of police, additional IGP Karachi and representatives of Headquarters 5 Corps was convened by the then home minister on May 22 with the objective of formulating a security strategy and devising a code of conduct (security protocol) to be followed by the political parties during the elections.

“In the above-said meeting, detailed discussions and deliberations took place and the participants agreed upon the security guidelines or SOPs and protocols to be observed by the political parties and enforced by the officers of the district administration and police during the general vote.

Officials said the officers of the Sindh Police and district administration and all relevant officers of the government of Sindh would abide by and enforce those guidelines themselves and the provincial and local leaderships of the political parties would also be made aware of such SOPs to follow and abide by in letter and spirit.

Hate speech

The guidelines unambiguously made it clear that there would be “no hate speeches by any person or party”.

“There shall be zero tolerance for any attempt to incite violence or resort to violence during meetings or jalsa or processions or during polling hours or during counting of votes,” said the document.

It added there would be strong administrative and legal action against such acts of violence.

“There shall be no use of language which may lead to violence or resort to violence. No person shall cause injury or damage to any person or property.”

Besides, “political parties’ flags or banners shall not be hoisted on any public property or building pole. No wall chalking shall be allowed”.

The notification said meetings or corner meetings or jalsas (public meetings) had been categorised into small and large or big gatherings.

“For small meeting or corner meeting, NOC (no-objection certificate) or permission will be sought from SSP on an application mentioning the date, time, venue and expected number of participants.

“For large or big meetings or jalsa, the NOC or permission will be sought from both SSP and deputy commissioner of the district concerned.”

It added the NOC or permission in both cases would be sought three days before the scheduled date.

“No two meetings or jalsa by different political parties shall take place on the same date, time and at the same venue or at a place adjacent to the venue of the other party.”

Similarly, political rallies or processions could only be held if the NOC or permission for the same had been sought three days before the scheduled date from both the SSP and the DC concerned, it said.

“The route and the timing of the rally or procession shall be predetermined and mentioned in the application for NOC or permission. In case of deviation, strict action shall be taken against the applicant or organiser.”

It advised great care should be taken by the applicants or organisers of such rallies to avoid traffic congestion, hindrance or any inconvenience to the general public.

Video recording

Video recording of the public meetings, corner meetings, rallies and processions, asserted the guidelines, “shall be responsibility of the applicants or organisers of such events. They shall submit a copy of such video recording at the police station concerned”.

Officials said the security guidelines were complementary to and in no way in derogation of any guidelines or SOPs issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan or any other authority or institution of the federal and provincial governments.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018