KARACHI, June 30: Army is likely to supervise the forthcoming local bodies election across Sindh, including the provincial capital, Karachi, Dawn has learnt reliably. Well-placed sources said that a series of meetings at high level was being held between government officials and army officers to devise a plan to hold local bodies polls in a peaceful atmosphere and transparent manner.
It was decided to collect data of previous elections and pinpoint the areas that had witnessed violence involving political opponents and would require deployment of force to meet any possible outbreak of violence. Sensitive polling stations would also be identified.
Sources said that the army had asked the provincial government and the police department to prepare a report mentioning the area-wise polling stations and composition of political parties in each and every area. Besides, they had been asked to highlight the ‘sensitive’ and ‘most sensitive’ areas/polling stations where peaceful election process could be ensured only under heavy deployment.
A senior police officer on condition of anonymity told Dawn that the army had sought the lists of polling stations with all relevant details. The data was being prepared with all required information and would soon be sent to the army, he said.
The sources said that the government feared outbreak of armed clashes between political opponents in Sindh, especially in this metropolis, during the election campaign and on the polling day.
Presence of army was felt imperative to hold the polls in a peaceful atmosphere and to ensure a heavy turnout of voters.
