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PESHAWAR, Aug 23: The NWFP Police have decided to increase deployment of security personnel to maintain law and order during the second phase of the local government elections on Thursday.
Provincial IGP Riffat Pasha told newsmen at his office here on Monday that six wings of the Frontier Constabulary would be deployed in Hangu, Lakki Marwat and Hazara regions to tighten security during the polling.
Mr Pasha said the first phase of the local bodies elections was held in a peaceful manner due to strict security. And in the next phase, extra 600 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary would be deployed to prevent any disorder.
To a query about firing incidents in Nowshera, Bannu and Peshawar during and after the local bodies elections, the PPO claimed that all incidents were not elections related.
Mr Pasha said that during the second phase of the elections, women police personnel would also be deployed at female polling booths.
He admitted scarcity of women force in the NWFP Police. “We want more policewomen in the force, but they are not willing to join,” he added.
Replying to another question, Mr Pasha said no female voter was stopped either by a candidate or his supports from voting during the first phase of the elections.
“We will also not allow any one to deprive women of their voting rights in the second phase,” he added.
ARMS SEIZED: The city police on Monday seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition which were being smuggled to Punjab from the tribal area, said an official statement.
Police on a prior information erected barricade on the Bara Road near Pishtakhara and signalled a suspected car. The driver left the car on the roadside and escaped.
The police recovered seven Kalashnikovs, nine riffles, eight double barrel guns, 10 pistols and hundreds of cartridges from the car.
RE-POLLING DEMANDED: Some residents of Surezai Payan union council held a demonstration near the press club on Monday in protest against alleged rigging in the election for local nazim and demanding re-polling under army supervision.
The protesters accused the nazim-elect, Fazale Illahi, of rigging and urged the Election Commission to cancel the results of the elections and order fresh polling under army supervision.
Leaders of the protesters alleged that police had arrested the nazim’s brother on the election day while he was trying to poll bogus votes but released him without registering a case.
They said women were not allowed to take part in the election.
They asked the Election Commission to order a judicial probe into the alleged rigging in the election.
