LAHORE, Oct 3: Rangers have been called out in Kasur, Jhang and Khushab districts. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Monday said here that the three districts had been declared as sensitive.
“Rangers have been deployed in these districts in addition to police to ensure that polling to elect district, tehsil and town councils on Oct 6 is free from any trouble across the Punjab”, the acting CEC was talking to newsmen after presiding over a high- level meeting of senior provincial government officers to review arrangements for elections.
He also said that the parliamentary secretary and eight other people had been arrested in Kasur and they were charged with resorting to terrorism.
Justice Dogar wanted safe transportation of ballot boxes and other election material as well as arrival of voters at designated polling stations and said that maintenance of law and order was the duty of the provincial government which it must ensure at all costs. He also instructed the senior officers that the government should also ensure adequately intensive deployment of police and other law enforcement personnel so that the third phase of the election was conducted in safe and smooth manner.
Replying to a question, the acting CEC said that he was satisfied with the arrangements made by the provincial government for the safe conduct of polls as it was easier to take an effective care of the ‘limited’ elections than the first two phases which involved the general people. He said reports presented at the meeting showed that adequate law enforcement measures had been taken for the polls.
Asked about the reports that some voters had been taken to Murree and other places where they were made hostage to vote for selected candidates, the CEC said such complaints should be inquired into by the government agencies. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan had received no such complaint from any quarters. He said the commission could take action only on complaints and not the heresy or news reports.
