KARACHI: As many as 14,000 army personnel and 10,000 paramilitary Rangers, in addition to 109,000 policemen, will be deployed for election security across Sindh, where 13,027 polling stations have been declared ‘highly sensitive’ or ‘sensitive’, it emerged on Thursday.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference at CM House, Caretaker Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar said that the police had worked out a requirement of 109,000 personnel against which 105,000 were available, adding that the shortfall of 4,000 personnel would be met by the auxiliary force of the provincial government such as anti-encroachment force, excise police, anti-corruption establishment and Civil Defence.

“Apart from the police, 10,000 Rangers and 14,000 Pak Army personnel will also perform election duty,” Justice Baqar said.

He said that “the caretaker government of Sindh is taking all out efforts to ensure, free, fair and transparent elections in the province and peaceful polling for the 61 National Assembly and 130 Sindh Assembly seats.

Shortfall in police strength to be covered by drawing personnel from ACE, anti encroachment force, excise police and Civil Defence, says Baqar

A security force comprising 133,000 policemen, Rangers and Pak Army would be deployed to maintain complete peace, he added.

The chief minister, accompanied by Home Minister Haris Nawaz, Information Minister Ahmad Shah and Special Assistant Advocate Moiz Baig, said that there were 19,006 polling stations in the province. Of them, 6,496 were declared ‘highly sensitive’ and 6,531 ‘sensitive’.

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“I have held a detailed meeting with the chief secretary, IGP and DG Rangers in which all divisional commissioners and DIGs, as well as the provincial election commissioner, participated,” he said, and added that the overall law and order situation, provision of missing facilities and arrangement for security staff, if necessary, were discussed threadbare.

The CM said that the Election Commission of Pakistan had trained policemen as ‘master trainers’ who would further train the remaining officials and auxiliary force. An Election Cell had already been established in the Central Police Office which was working round-the-clock, he said.

He said that a control room had also been established at the CPO which was in close coordination and liaison with the control room of the interior ministry.

In reply to a question, the CM said that the districts which had a history of violence in the last few elections had been termed ‘sensitive’ where necessary measures had been taken to keep the situation normal during the polling day.

Answering another query, he said that in his review meeting, he got updates from the commissioners about the repair of schools where polling stations were being established.

He said that almost all the school buildings had been repaired and provided with the necessary facilities. “Even then, the chief secretary has been assigned to get verification certificates from all the commissioners for repair of the schools,” he said.

Responding to a questioner, CM Baqar said that the Provincial Election Commissioner told him in the meeting that printing of ballot papers had been started. “We would help the ECP to ensure safe and secure transportation of ballot papers to their destinations well in time,” he said.

The CM said that the provincial election commissioner informed him that arrangements for the Feb 8, general elections had been complete and the provincial, divisional and district administrations were supporting the ECP to their best.

Justice Baqar said that the vehicles provided to the election staff were in good condition. “We would also ensure provision of an uninterrupted electricity, transport, proper security, water, sanitation and other such facilities at all polling stations,” he said, and added that an ambulance equipped with doctors and necessary equipment and fire tenders would be deployed within the vicinity of every polling station.

The chief minister said that the Provincial Election Commissioner was satisfied with the support, necessary help and facilitation extended to him by the Sindh government. ’Internally, we would keep the arrangements reviewing so that everything remains sound and safe,“ he concluded.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024