PESHAWAR: The Peshawar police have chalked out a plan to deploy over 11,000 personnel for the security of 1,249 polling stations set up in the provincial capital for the Dec 19 local body elections.

In a statement issued on Friday, the city police said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared 204 of the capitalcity’s polling station as most sensitive and 880 others as sensitive. The rest have been declared ‘normal’.

Besides the police, personnel of the Frontier Constabulary will also be deployed at the most sensitive polling stations to ensure peaceful elections. Besides, the police will also deploy drone cameras to monitor polling stations.

In addition, the women police, quick response force, bomb disposal unit, canine units and newly-constituted Ababeel Force’s personnel will be deployed to ensure peace in the city on election day.

Over 11,000 personnel to be deployed for LG elections

The police said in preparations for the polls, they had begun strict vigilance at the entry and exit points of the capital city. Besides, they have also increased mobile and rider squad patrolling.

According to them, the armoured personnel carriers have also been deployed at important government buildings and other sensitive locations.

The police have also acquired the services of women staff of civil defence and health department for help maintain the law and order situation on polling day.

The QRF has been tasked with prompt reaction in case of any emergency.

Capital City Police Officer Abbas Ahsan directed the police personnel not to let the irrelevant people enter the polling stations. He directed them to maintain queues and ensure physical search of all voters.

The CCPO also directed the police personnel to avoid the use of mobile phones during duty.

He asked the people to cooperate with the police and security personnel on that day. Mr Ahsan said the people should alert the nearby police stations after seeing any suspicious person or package.

He said the police had decided to deploy the newly-constituted Ababeel Squad for help ensure election security.

The Ababeel Squad personnel will be deployed in the vicinity of polling stations and that they will remain in contact with the central control room and local police authorities.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Peshawar Khalid Mahmood on Friday set up a control room to ensure peaceful local body elections in the provincial capital.

In a statement issued here, the DC said the control room would work round the clock during the elections and officials of several government agencies will be deputed there.

According to the statement, a meeting took place in his office, which was informed that all preparations for the local body polls had been completed.

Also, the security and traffic plans have also been formulated for the purpose, while election material has also been dispatched to the respective returning officers.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2021