CS SindhKarachi (7th January 2021). An important meeting was held at Sindh Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah here on Thursday. The meeting reviewed security and other administrative arrangements for the by-elections to be held in Umerkot, Malir, Sanghar and Tharparkar from 18th January to 21st February 2021. The meeting also discussed matter of encroachment at lands of KCR and government agencies in the province. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Senior Member Board of Revenue Qazi Shahid Pervaiz, All administrative Secretaries, All Divisional Commissioners, AIG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, Administrator KMC and all Deputy Commissioners of Sindh.In the meeting, Provincial Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan said that by-elections are scheduled to be held in Umerkot on 18th January 2021. He further informed the meeting that there are 128 polling stations in Umerkot, out of which 50 are highly sensitive polling stations.It was decided at the meeting that CCTV cameras would be installed at the most sensitive polling stations. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah said that all kinds of facilities would be provided to the Election Commission by the provincial government. Mumtaz Ali Shah asked the Provincial Election Commissioner to extend the polling time keeping in view the Corona Virus SOPs during the by-elections. The Provincial Election Commissioner said that the request for extension of polling time has been received and a decision will be taken soon.The Chief Secretary Sindh directed the Secretary General Administration Naseem-ul- Ghani Sehto, Commissioner Mirpurkhas and Deputy Commissioner Umerkot to remain in touch with the Election Commission and provide all facilities for the by-elections. The CS directed the secretaries of all departments to submit details of illegal occupation of land of government departments. Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah directed the secretaries and deputy commissioners to submit the details of occupation of lands of government departments within a week.Giving orders regarding KCR in the meeting, the Chief Secretary Sindh said that the railway land should be vacated in collaboration with Pakistan Railways. Railway officials along with district administration and police should vacate the land. At the meeting, railway officials said that KCR’s right of way has been cleared of encroachments. There are encroachments near KalaPull and they are being removed with the help of district administration. The Chief Secretary Sindh directed all secretaries to submit reports of court cases on time.
