KARACHI: Federal Interior Secretary Yousuf Nasim Khokhar has stressed the need for following the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan and implementing the security plan for holding the general elections in the country peacefully.

He was exchanging views with all provincial chief secretaries on Wednesday morning via a video conference in the wake of suicide attack in Peshawar on Tuesday in which around 20 persons, including a senior leader of Awami National Party, Haroon Bilour, were killed and over 34 injured.

Expressing his satisfaction with the ongoing election process in the provinces, Mr Khokhar emphasised the need for more coordination among relevant security agencies and advised contesting candidates to follow security guidelines strictly.

Earlier, exchanging his views on the law and order situation, Sindh Chief Secretary retired Major Azam Suleman Khan suggested three security measures — specific security for heads of main political parties, reducing number of corner meetings and enhancing inter-provincial coordination and cooperation.

Later, visiting a model polling station at the Government College of Commerce and Economics in Karachi, the chief secretary said holding of fair and free elections was a tough task which required special attention and interest of all stakeholders.

He also stressed the need for arranging all necessary facilities at sensitive polling stations, including power generators and UPS boxes.

Major Khan also drew focus on installation of CCTV cameras in all improvised polling stations, numbering 191, across the province and the need to maintain congenial atmosphere there.

Earlier, Brig Taufeeq Ahmed, NRTC (National Radio and Telecom Corporation) managing director, briefed the chief secretary on the training being imparted to technical staff for operating CCTV cameras in all 5,673 polling stations across the province, where 20,000 CCTV cameras were being installed.

He added that all fully operational polling stations will be handed over to provincial election commissions by July 22.

Those present on the occasion were: Provincial Election Commissioner Yousuf Khan Khattak, Sindh IGP Amjad Saleemi, Home Secretary Haroon Ahmed Khan, Gen Administration Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, Implementation and Coordination Secretary Mohsin Ali Shah, Commissioner Mohammad Saleh Farooqi, Additional IGP Mushtaq Maher, all the six deputy commissioners of Karachi and other senior officers.

Meanwhile, caretaker Information Minister Jameel Yusuf in a statement said the government was making all possible efforts to hold peaceful elections but anti-state elements and terrorists were trying to sabotage the law and order situation.

He appealed to all political parties and their leaderships to cooperate with the local administration to help organise their rallies and corner meetings.

The district administration, he said, with the workers of political parties was discharging its national duty and keeping a vigilant eye on such elements to ensure holding of corner meetings, processions and other electoral activities without any untoward incident.

Mr Yusuf also condemned the Peshawar blast and condoled with the bereaved families of Haroon Bilour and others, saying their sacrifices would never be forgotten.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2018