ATTOCK, April 4: With polling scheduled for May 11, officials are now busy ensuring that the upcoming general elections are safe, efficient and transparent.

Security is a major consideration, with 184 of Attock's 788 polling stations being declared ‘very sensitive’.

On Thursday, Attock's District Returning Officer, Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed, who is also a district and sessions judge, spoke to the media regarding preparations for the elections.

Of the 184 A-category polling stations, he said, 42 are in NA-57 Attock-I, 98 in NA-58 Attock-II, and 44 in NA-49 Attock-III.

Polling stations have been set up at two kilometers distance in the district's populated areas, in an effort to ensure access for voters, particularly women and the elderly.

In order to maintain foolproof security at the 184 highly sensitive polling stations, Attock organisers have turned to higher authorities, asking for six companies from the Army and 10 from the Rangers to be deployed.

“In addition,” the DRO continued, “there will be around 5,000 personnel from the police and elite forces deployed for election security duties.”

“We are implementing the ECP's codes very carefully,” he said, adding “and the chief election commissioner has given a free hand to the judiciary, police and executive authorities to implement the codes.”

He added that there was to be a "zero tolerance party," including legal action, for any violations of the code.

According to the DRO, “a day ago the Chief Justice especially instructed all officials to make sure that the process is free, fair and transparent.

It is our primary task to conduct these elections under the supervision of the judiciary.” He added that media and civil society should also cooperate by pointing out possible violations of the code by government officials or others.

The staff itself was described as “totally impartial, neutral, and very committed to a transparent and rigging-free election in the district.” To supervise the polling stations, they are seeking to appoint “reputed and experienced” presiding officers.

The ECP's code of conduct strictly regulates many aspects of the election process.

Ahmed noted that it required government officials to refrain from electioneering, and warned local politicians especially to “avoid direct or indirect interference in the process.”

Candidates have also been warned to follow the code, including the display of publicity materials. Those officials found violating this stricture will face strict legal punishment, and “can even be expelled from service”.

“So far,” Ahmed said, “no candidate or citizen has reported any violations of the code, and the monitoring teams,” formed to watch over the district, “have not noted any either.”

He added that the inspection process had not yet discovered any candidates who had faked their educational credentials.

However, the DRO noted that he and other ROs were available to citizens and aspirants 24 hours a day if they noted any violations or other problems regarding the process.

Reporters asked about the possible impact of loadshedding on the election process, which they felt could cause a hindrance.

The DRO said that organisers were "hoping there will be no such problems on that day," but that standby measures are being considered. “The ECP has already asked the government to avoid loadshedding on election day,” he added.