RAWALPINDI: As per the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the inspector general of police Punjab (IGP) and regional police officers (RPOs) have been instructed to install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) at highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations and establish a control room to monitor the activities.

According to sources, the Punjab provincial election commissioner (PEC) has intimated the chief secretary Punjab, the chief commissioner Islamabad, IGP Punjab and IGP Islamabad to strictly comply with the directives issued on December 25, 2023, in letter and spirit.

The decision to install CCTV cameras at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations was taken during a top-level meeting of the ECP with the chief secretary of Punjab in connection with the conduct of by-elections in 20 provincial constituencies in July 2022.

Besides, all RPOs, district police officers (DPOs), Punjab regional and district election commissioners and other relevant authorities have also been intimated.

Following the IGP’s directives, RPO Rawalpindi Syed Khurram Ali directed City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani and the DPOs of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal to take necessary actions and ensure strict compliance in this connection and with the RPO office.

When a senior police officer was asked about the categorisation and the number of highly sensitive and ordinary polling stations in Rawalpindi division, he said the categorisation of polling stations had not been finalised, however, the process was underway.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024