February 11, 2008	Monday	Safar 03, 1429

PESHAWAR, Feb 10: As part of the election security plan, officials of various police stations in the city have been asked for a crackdown on all the illegal Afghan nationals residing in Peshawar.

A high-ranking official told Dawn that the decision was taken in order to ensure protection to people, particularly on the election day. He said most of the Afghan refugees were residing in the city without having the valid documents, adding that they were even least interested in following the rules.

The source said that after the demolition of Kacha Garhi camp majority of the refugees had mixed with the local population in the residential areas of the city multiplying the surveillance duty for the capital city police.

At least 3,000 police personnel, he said, would perform the election duty on polling stations both in rural and urban areas of the district. Besides, about 90 policewomen would be also deployed at female polling stations.

The source quoted Capital City Police Officer Tanvirul Haq Sipra as saying at a meeting that the Election Day duty would be a big challenge for the police.

Meanwhile, according to a statement issued here on Sunday, CCPO in his speech to the police officials at his office said that in case of any deficiency strict action would be taken against the officials concerned.

He directed them to visit all the polling stations, check the premises of polling, and concentrate on the protection of politicians and general public.

Mr Sipra asked the SHOs and SDPOs to monitor the movement of people in their respective jurisdictions and immediately arrest the suspected people roaming around the polling stations.

He directed his subordinates to further regularise the patrolling duties and foil any possible sabotage attempt by the anti-social and anti-state-elements.