KARACHI: Calling for maintenance of law and order and strict compliance with the election code of conduct, Sindh Chief Secretary retired Major Azam Suleman Khan has sought close coordination among Rangers personnel, officials from revenue and police departments, and representatives from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during the general elections in the province.

He was presiding over high-level meetings on Monday in Karachi, Larkana and Nawabshah regarding the general elections.

At the meeting in Karachi, the Sindh government decided to induct Rangers representatives in the monitoring committees for ensuring implementation of the code of conduct by all political parties and their candidates, and to initiate action in case of violation of the code.

Held to review preparations being made for holding free and fair elections on July 25, the meeting also decided to take action against the polling staff failing to report for election duty

The meeting held at the Karachi commissioner’s office was attended by Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Saleemi, Home Secretary Haroon Ahmad Khan, Karachi commissioner, Additional IGP Karachi Police Mushtaq Mahar, Regional Election Commissioner Asghar Sial, all deputy commissioners (DCs), DIGs, SSPs and other officials concerned.

Earlier, Karachi Commissioner Mohammad Saleh Farooqui briefed the meeting about arrangements for the polling staff and logistic support for conducting the election while the DCs presented their respective reports about transport arrangements for election duty.

They also said the monitoring committees overlooking implementation of the code of conduct had become operational and that action had been initiated against the parties and candidates found involved in violation of the code.

In Larkana, he urged a committee comprising officials from revenue, police, Rangers and ECP representatives to have close coordination among all during the upcoming elections.

The commissioner of Larkana briefed the meeting with charts and maps regarding the arrangements so far made for holding elections in the division.

The chief secretary instructed the divisional heads of revenue and police departments to ensure implementation of the election code of conduct so that the polls could be held transparently, fairly and freely.

He asked the DCs to implement the code of conduct without any discrimination. Anyone violating the election commission’s instructions should be dealt with under law, he said and instructed the DCs to install closed-circuit cameras at the highly sensitive polling stations and ensure the presence of standby power generators and uninterrupted power supply units.

Later, the chief secretary and IGP Saleemi visited Chandka Medical College Hospital and met patients while visiting different wards. They asked the medical superintendent (MS) to ensure supply of free medicines and care of patients.

They also visited the police facilitation centre and handed over 10 heavy bikes to the Larkana police to man city’s traffic system effectively.

In Nawabshah, accompanied by the IGP, he held a high-level meeting at the commissioner office of Shaheed Benazirabad.

The meeting was attended by Shaheed Benazirabad Comm­issioner Akram Ali Khuwaja, DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh, SSP Shaheed Benazirabad Rai Ijaz Ahmad, deputy commissioners and SSPs of Naushahro Feroze and Sanghar districts.

The chief secretary directed officials to ensure all facilities, including drinking water, washrooms and electricity at all polling stations of the district.

Shaheed Benazirabad Comm­issioner Akram Ali Khuwaja and DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh briefed the chair about the overall arrangements related to the general elections.

Later, the chief secretary and IGP visited a few polling stations of the city and inspected arrangements.

He also visited trauma centre and laboratory of the Peoples University Medical Hospital where he expressed dissatisfaction over cleanliness of the centre and asked to extend laboratory space in future.

The IGP directed the officials concerned to ensure that no vehicle was parked outside the trauma centre after which all the parked motorcycles were taken to A-section police station and their owners charged.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018