ISLAMABAD: With Feb 8 polls only a few days away, the Rawalpindi police have chalked up a comprehensive security and contingency plan, under which it will deploy about 12,783 police officials and 4,390 military and paramilitary personnel — to assist police as the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) — to protect 5,490 polling stations across the division.

Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Syed Khurram Ali confirmed that all security arrangements for the election had been completed throughout the Rawalpindi division. “The troops are scheduled to arrive in Rawalpindi on Sunday night, where they will work alongside the Rawalpindi police to strengthen security until the elections are completed.”

In the Rawalpindi division, a total of 5,490 polling stations have been categorised as A, B, and C due to their vulnerability. Of the 5,490 stations, 694 have been declared as highly sensitive, 1371 as sensitive, and 3,425 as normal.

In Rawalpindi district alone, 7,314 police personnel will be deployed; 2,255 in Attock; 1,636 in Jhelum, and 1,578 will be deployed outside polling stations in Chakwal. Out of the “most sensitive” stations, over 4,300 troops will be deployed as a QRF.

580 ‘highly sensitive’ polling station

In its 350-page security plan, the Rawalpindi district police categorised 580 polling places as “highly sensitive” and over 7,000 police along with military and paramilitaries will perform duties outside these stations. According to the plan, a total of 1,358 booths – 806 for males and 552 for females – will be set up in the 580 “highly sensitive” polling stations to be established in the Rawalpindi district for general elections.

12,000 police, 4,390 military and paramilitary troops to be deployed in Rawalpindi division

The sources said that 580 CCTV cameras will be installed at the highly sensitive polling stations in Rawalpindi district and a control room will also be set up to monitor the situation.

During the Feb 8 general elections, the CCTV cameras will be controlled by the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation.

As part of the police preparedness, contingents of police, Elite Force, traffic police, Dolphin Force, Special Protection Unit (SPU) and other law enforcement officials will conduct a flag march in the garrison city on February 5 and Feb, 7.

The services of ex-policemen and PQRs (razakars/volunteers) have also been sought to assist the district police in maintaining peace during the general election. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had said the armed forces would be on standby as QRF outside the “most sensitive polling stations” during the general elections on February 8. It said the ECP had obtained the services of the armed forces for assistance in ensuring security arrangements for the conduct of the general elections.

“Pakistan armed forces/civil armed forces shall assist in the provision of a secure environment by deploying in Quick Reaction Force mode and outside the selected “most sensitive” polling stations from Feb 5 to Feb 10 to assist the ECP in the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections,” the election watchdog had said.

As part of the security plan, seven police officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSPs) will be deployed with returning officers.

Two police reserves of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) will be deployed with the regional police officer (RPO) while a Dolphin force squad will be deployed with the city police officer (CPO).

The plan said all the CPOs and DPOs will ensure that police officers/officials deployed on election duty have been wearing uniforms, helmets and jackets according to SOPs.

In a fresh move, City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani also issued a directive to the SPs, SDPOs and SHOs across the district that all the relevant police officers will be responsible for the presence of their officers and officials on election duty and they would brief them before joining the election duty point.

The senior police officers have also been directed to ensure that none of the police officers or officials is absent or missing from election duty. The CPO warned that they would be dismissed from the service after summary proceedings on the same day.

On the other hand, Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar has directed the RPOs, CPOs, and DSPs across Punjab to ensure that directions issued by the ECP and government regarding free, fair, and peaceful elections are implemented in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024