December 04, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 23, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: Security concerns loom large over the January 8 general elections but surprisingly the suburbs of Islamabad are considered more dangerous than the noisy city itself.

A senior official of the local administration told Dawn on Monday that the 20 polling stations declared ”sensitive” by the security departments all lie in rural areas of the federal capital — Golra, Malpur and Sihala.

Islamabad’s administrators have been told to deploy adequate forces at these places to ensure smooth and peaceful polling for the capital’s two seats in the National Assembly. Golra falls in constituency NA-48 and Malpur and Sihala in NA-49.

However, when contacted, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad sought to calm frayed nerves.

Notwithstanding the “sensitive” classification, he said the situation in Islamabad was not serious and would remain peaceful during the elections.

Extra police force would be deployed at the polling stations declared sensitive to prevent any untoward incident.

Sources in the Election Commission said a total of 370 polling stations and 508 polling booths would be set up in the federal capital territory, manned by 2,428 polling staff. A centre established at the Islamabad Model College for Boys F-8/4 will monitor and control the election process.

Meanwhile, nomination papers of two candidates were rejected and one withdrew from the race on the last day of scrutiny.

Sixty-one candidates are now remain the contest, 42 of them are in the run for NA-48 seat and 19 for NA-49.

Nomination paper of Mujeebur Rehman was rejected on the ground that his proposer and seconder did not reside in the constituency and that of Raja Abdul Ghafaar for being an employee of the National Bank of Pakistan.

Raja Jamil Abbasi withdrew his nomination.

Meanwhile, the caretaker government is contemplating on deployment of paramilitary forces for maintenance of law and order during general elections, Dawn has learnt.

Informed sources said the federal government has sought suggestions from the provincial governments and the federal capital territory administration by December 10 on deployment of para-military forces and troops during polls.

The sources said after receiving the suggestions a high level meeting would be convened in Islamabad to decide whether the para-military forces or troops are needed to be deployed, especially at sensitive polling stations, or the police force were enough to handle the situation.

The sources said, at least two weeks were needed to give training to the security personnel to handle the situation.

The ongoing protests by lawyers, civil society and recent terrorist attacks in the country have sounded fears of violence during the polls.

Foreign observers are also likely to arrive to monitor the polling.