HYDERABAD: Reiterating the resolve to hold free and fair elections, Sindh Chief Secretary retired Major Azam Suleman Khan called for better communication system in Tharparkar, Umerkot and Khairpur so that poll-related activities could be carried out there in an efficient manner.

He was presiding over high-level meetings in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur on Friday and Thursday to review arrangements for holding the general elections 2018 and security measures in view of threats to various candidates running in the polls.

In the Hyderabad meeting on Friday at Shahbaz Hall, he expressed satisfaction over arrangements made for the forthcoming polls, calling for strict observance of election code of conduct and provision of all required facilities at the polling stations.

He urged the officers concerned to ensure uninterrupted power supply at the polling stations where there was no electricity during the polls so that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras could monitor activities properly.

“To hold the elections peacefully is a test for all of us and this is the task we have been assigned,” he said. He asked all officers to remain active during the elections.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amjad Saleemi directed the Hyderabad deputy inspector general of police (DIG) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) to ensure security of candidates and people at any cost, keep strict watch on violators of the code of conduct, cooperate with law enforcement agencies and enhance patrolling at sensitive places.

Hyderabad Division Commissioner Ehsan Ali Mangi and DIG Sultan Khowaja gave a briefing through multimedia about arrangements and facilities for the polls. Hyderabad Regional Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan also briefed the secretary.

All relevant officers were present in the meeting.

In Mirpurkhas, the chief secretary said the mandate was given to the caretaker government to hold transparent and fair elections. He directed officers to create peaceful environment at the polling stations so that people, especially women, could cast vote without any fear under strict security arrangements.

The meeting discussed fool-proof security arrangements in the division during the general election.

The chief secretary directed the stakeholders and officers concerned to set up polling stations for women near their homes and also make suitable arrangements under the guidelines of the Met office for rainfall on the day of election.

He said better transport facilities should be arranged for polling staff and generators be installed at the polling stations to ensure 24-hour electricity supply.

Lamenting that there was no proper communication system in the districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur and far-flung desert areas, he called for proper arrangements to keep in contact with the polling staff in those areas.

The chief secretary directed Chinese engineers and other staff working on Thar coalmines and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project not to make unnecessary movement as law enforcing agencies would be busy in providing security to public during the election process.

He asked health officers to impose emergency in the health department and ensure availability of required staff, doctors, ambulances and medicines during the election.

Mirpurkhas DIG Saqib Ismail Memon told the meeting that 5,820 policemen were being deployed for the election process in the division.

He directed officers to deploy six police personnel at each sensitive polling station.

In Sukkur, the chief secretary held the meeting in the conference room of the DC office on Thursday to review the arrangements for the elections as well as security measures in Sukkur division.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018