KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan has identified 4,154 highly sensitive polling stations across Sindh including 1977 in Karachi – the highest in any of the cities.
According to the ECP, rest of the sensitive polling stations are located in other cities including 1206 in Hyderabad, 176 in Mirpurkhas, 124 in Shaheed Benazir, 289 in Sukkur and 382 in Larkana.
The statistics was shared by Chief Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleman while briefing the Sindh Cabinet. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Fazul-ur-Rehman.
The chief secretary said that there would be around 17606 polling stations, of them 4350 are most sensitive, 7999 sensitive and 5257 normal.
He said that eight policemen would be deployed at most sensitive polling station, four at sensitive and two at normal polling station.
Under the security plan, the IG said 106,982 policemen, including 16000 reserves would be deployed at all the polling stations across the province. He added that a force of 76,310 policemen would be deployed at polling stations and 14,672 would be on patrolling.
Secretary Home Mohammad Haroon briefing the cabinet about salient features of security protocol for political leaders said it includes no hate speech, no hoisting of flags or banners on public property/buildings/poles; no wall chalking on public property.
The political parties would have to obtain NOC for large public gatherings and rallies, corner meetings and small gathering from the concerned deputy commissioners and SSPs.
He added that route of public rallies of political parties would be determined in consultation with concerned DCS and SSPs at least three days earlier than the schedule.
It was pointed out that the security of the political parties and candidates would be their own responsibility, however Sindh police would be responsible for overall security of locality, area, venue and persons/public gathering at large.
The political leaders may, however, deploy private security guards in uniform and with licensed arms for their personal security.
The organizers of political events have been urged to record the proceedings of the event and provide recording to the local police. The Home Secretary told the meeting that the election law & Order cell was being established in Home department for close coordination among the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), IGP office and field offices to monitor the election.
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