RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police have chalked out a traffic plan, including prohibiting parking cars within 400 metres of polling stations and deploying over 1,200 traffic police officers and setting up an emergency squad on a standby on the polling day on Thursday.

To ensure proof security, 2,519 CCTV cameras have already been installed across the region which will be monitored from the central control room. Control rooms have also been established in all the districts for 24-hour monitoring of the situation with the central control room at the regional office.

On the other hand, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali has approved a security plan for the Rawalpindi division.

The City Traffic Police have prepared arrangements to keep traffic flow smooth during the elections with deployment of more than 1,236 personnel.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Taimoor Khan said the officers and wardens will perform traffic and security duties. He said 11 DSPs, 227 inspectors, 755 wardens and 243 traffic assistants and senior traffic assistants were being posted to various polling stations.

According to the traffic plan, no parking will be allowed within 400 metres of polling stations. Circle officers and wardens have been instructed to keep a close watch on suspicious persons and abandoned items.

The CTO said in case of violation of traffic rules, the offender’s CNIC will not be kept for issuing challan so that people will not face difficulty in casting their vote.

He said, “For any problem and guidance, people can call the police helpline,” adding an emergency squad had been formed to maintain the flow of traffic in case of any emergency.

On the other hand, RPO Syed Khurram Aliapproved the security plan for Rawalpindi and the districts of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.

Following the orders, all security arrangements regarding the general elections have been finalised throughout the region with more than 12,500 police officers and officials having been deployed in the four districts.

In addition, more than 4,000 other law enforcers (troops and Rangers) will be deployed to assist the police. The officials of security agencies will perform patrolling duties at sensitive places and other areas. The implementation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission will be ensured in every case, the RPO said.

A police spokesman said on the orders of the RPO all arrangements regarding had been finalised in the four districts of Rawalpindi division. In addition, officers and officials of other law enforcement agencies will perform patrolling duties in sensitive places.

In Rawalpindi division, 5,490 polling stations have been established in 13 constituencies of the National Assembly and 26 constituencies of the provincial assembly, which have been categorised A, B and C and 694 polling stations have been included in category A, 1,371 in category B and 3,425 in category C.

A total of 2,519 CCTV cameras have been installed across the region, which will be monitored from the central control room.

Before the elections, the police force in Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal along with other law enforcement agencies conducted a joint flag march and full-dress rehearsal.

The RPO while speaking on the occasion said the implementation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission would be ensured. He said peaceful conduct of the elections was one of the top priorities.

Meanwhile, a police flag march will also conducted in the Rawalpindi district on Wednesday as part of the preparedness of the law enforcement agencies.

On the other hand, the CPO attended a briefing with senior police officers to discuss security arrangements for the polling day.

In addition, police officers deployed at the offices of returning officers and polling stations were briefed about their duty. Another similar session was held for lady health workers, who would be deployed in polling stations for women.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2024