RAWALPINDI: The police have devised a security plan for the upcoming by-elections in Rawalpindi’s NA-60 and NA-63 with 4,000 police to be deployed to maintain peace during polls. Some 21 companies have been requested from the Pakistan Army and seven from Rangers.

The district police have also asked the inspector general of police for 800 extra police personnel including 200 women police to assist the local police in maintaining peace during the upcoming by-elections scheduled for Oct 14.

The district police have also asked for 87 vehicles.

4,000 police to be deployed during polls, 21 army companies, seven of Rangers requested

A senior police official told Dawn that a request has made to the inspector general of police for 50 reserves of Punjab Constabulary (PC) and 200 women police officers as the local police is facing a shortage of manpower.

He said a similar request for 14 companies of Pakistan Army, three of Rangers, eight reserves of PC, five teams from the Elite Force, 124 women officers and 16 vehicles have been made for Attock.

Three companies from the army, three of Rangers, 20 reserves of PC, six of the Elite Force, 145 women officers and 75 CCTV cameras have been requested for Jhelum.

For Chakwal, 10 companies of the army, one of Rangers, eight reserves of PC and 315 women police officers have been requested.

A police spokesperson said of the 4,000 police personnel, 646 will be deployed at polling stations and extra police will be deployed at category A polling stations, which are declared sensitive.

“Security will be provided only to those individuals recommended by the divisional intelligence committee,” a senior police official told Dawn.

Surety bonds will be sought from candidates for the by-elections and a strict ban has been imposed on the display of weapons.

The police spokesperson said the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct will be enforced in letter and spirit.

Meanwhile as many as 76 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive for the by-elections.

There will be a total of 134 polling stations for men, 126 for women and 57 will be combined.

Taxila and Wah Circle Sub-Divisional Police Officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Ammara Sherazi told Dawn the local police have prepared a comprehensive security plan with the collaboration of other departments.

ECP officials said there are 370,938 registered voters in NA-63 – 195,223 men and 175,715 women.

The by-election is being held in NA-63 after Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who won the constituency in the general election, opted to retain the NA-59 seat.

Among the candidates are independent candidate Syed Haider Ali Shah, PML-N’s Aqeel Malik, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s Qurban Ali and PTI’s Mansoor Hayat Khan. PPP candidate Syed Ishrat Ali Ziadi withdrew his candidacy in favour of the PML-N following a party decision.

The PTI appears to be the forerunner in the election. The party’s candidate is the son of Ghulam Sarwar Khan, whose nephew was also elected to the Punjab Assembly on July 25.

Political observers have said the tide turned in favour of Mansoor Hayat Khan, rather than the traditional close contest between the PTI and the PML-N.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2018