In a press conference held at CM House on Thursday, the Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) MaqboolBaqar outlined the comprehensive security arrangements for the upcoming general election scheduled for February 8, 2024. The election aims to elect 61 members for the national and 130 members for the provincial assemblies. Addressing the media, Chief Minister Baqar emphasized the caretaker government’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election in Sindh.
To guarantee the integrity of the electoral process, a robust security force comprising 133,000 personnel from the police, Rangers, and Pak Army will be deployed. Baqar, accompanied by Minister Home Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz, Minister Information Ahmad Shah, and Special Assistant Advocate MoizBaig, highlighted the meticulous efforts being undertaken to review and enhance the arrangements for the forthcoming general election. The deployment of a substantial security force reflects the government’s dedication to upholding the principles of transparency, fairness, and freedom in the electoral process. The CM said that the general election was being held on 61 national and 130 provincial assembly seats in Sindh.
He added that out there would be 19,006 polling stations of them 6531 were sensitive and 6496 highly sensitive. “I had a detailed meeting with the Chief Secretary, IG Police and DG Rangers in which all divisional commissioners and DIGs and provincial election commissioner, Sindh participated,” he said and added that the overall law and order situation, provision of missing facilities and arrangement of security staff, if necessary were discussed in threadbare.
After the security audit the police have worked out a requirement of 109,000 police force against which 105,000 were available and there was a shortfall of 4000 policemen, the CM said and added that the shortfall would be met by the auxiliary force of the provincial government such as anti-encroachment force, Excise police, anti-corruption Civil Defence, frontier constabulary. Apart from the police, 10,000 Rangers and 14,000 Pak Army personnel would also perform election duty, he said.
The CM said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has trained policemen as master trainers and they [Master Trainers] would further train the remaining officials and auxiliary force. He added that an Election Cell has been established in CPO which was working round the clock. At CPO a complaint redressal and information sharing with others concerned against have been stated, he said and added control room has also been established at CPO which was in close coordination and liaison with the Control Room of the Ministry of Interior.
To a question, the CM said that the districts which had a history of violence in the last few elections have been termed as sensitive where necessary measures have been taken to keep the situation normal during the election day. To another question, the CM said that the provincial Election Commissioner told him in the meeting that printing of the ballot papers has 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 told the media that the vehicles provided to the election staff were in good condition.
“We would also ensure to provide uninterrupted electricity, transport, proper security, water, sanitation and such other facilities to all the polling stations,” he said and added that in the vicinity of polling stations an ambulance equipped with necessary equipment and doctors, fire tenders would be deployed. The CM told the media that the provincial election commissioner was satisfied with the support, necessary help and facilitation extended by the Sindh government. ‘Internally, we would keep the arrangements reviewing so that everything must sound and safe,” he concluded.
