September 23, 2002	Monday	Rajab 15, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: Troops will be deployed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad during general elections for maintenance of law and order, a senior police official of capital police told Dawn on Sunday.

The official said troops of III Brigade would be deployed in the capital on the request of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.

The official said mobile teams of army equipped with sophisticated weapons had started night patrolling in both cities to maintain peace and provide security to the people.

“This time extraordinary security measures are being taken to maintain peace during the polls, specially in Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he added.

Responding to a question about deployment of police during polls, he said holidays of all police personnel had been cancelled for election duty. He said some 5,000 police personnel would be engaged for meeting security arrangements in Islamabad.

“We have divided 386 polling stations, to be established in Islamabad, into three categories — sensitive, very sensitive and normal. The polling stations have been categorized on the basis of their previous record,” he added.

The official said polling stations where disturbances were reported in the last elections had been declared ‘sensitive’. Similarly, polling stations where such incidents had become a regular feature, have been declared ‘very sensitive’.

He said Janbaz Force and Mujahid Force of the army would also be deployed in the city to maintain law and order.

“All these forces would remain in touch with intelligence agencies to have prior information about any expected terrorism activity,” the official said.

To a question, the official said all SHOs had completed their assignments, including meetings with the candidates to inform them that they should abide by the ‘code of conduct’ issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

He said five candidates had been served warning notices for violating code of conduct. They were found involved in wall- chalking, pasting stickers on poles and walls of houses and installing banners in prohibited places.

He said police commandos would be deployed in the vicinity of polling stations, mosques, Imambargahs, commercial centres and other public places to avoid any untoward incident.

He stressed the need for provision of sophisticated weapons and wireless sets for the deployed police commandos at all sensitive places.