October 25, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 12, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 24: Apart from the existing strength of the law-enforcement agencies, a good number of the newly-inducted security personnel presently under training, including 15,000 policemen, will be available for deployment in the Frontier Province and Fata before the general elections.

This was revealed at a meeting held at the Governor’s House on Wednesday to review the law and order situation and to discuss the arrangements to be made to ensure free and fair elections.

The meeting was presided over by Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, while caretaker Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk and his cabinet ministers were present on the occasion.

NWFP Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor, IGP Sharif Virk, Additional Chief Secretary for Fata Javed Iqbal and others attended the meeting at which two task forces were constituted to review the ground realities, including the law and order situation and administrative requirements to ensure free and fair elections in the province.

The task force on Fata would be headed by the additional chief secretary for Fata, while the task force on the NWFP would be headed by the home secretary.

Provincial Election Commissioner Sabir Hussain Akhtar briefed the meeting about the arrangements being made for the forthcoming elections.

The meeting noted that apart from the law and order problems, certain challenges existed in the shape of weather conditions and lack of infrastructure and other facilities in the earthquake affected areas.