RAWALPINDI: The Election Commission Rawalpindi Chapter on Monday finalised 2,777 polling stations in Rawalpindi and Murree districts, and declared 560 of them sensitive.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, who is the district returning officer, told Dawn that the polling stations had been finalised for the elections scheduled to be held on Feb 8. However, he said that the polling scheme, which included the duties of the officials, would be finalised by Jan 11.

He also said that the number of sensitive polling stations is said to be more than 500, and it will be divided into three categories: A, B, and C. All returning officers in Rawalpindi Division have displayed the preliminary polling scheme in their respective offices for public objections and suggestions. Voters from the respective constituencies can submit objections or suggestions to the district returning officer until Jan 11.

He further said that as many as 2,544 polling stations would be established in all the union councils of the district and that a total of 233 polling stations were finalised for Murree District. He said that there would be a total of 2,777 polling stations in the Rawalpindi and Murree districts. The District Intelligence Committee (DIC), in coordination with local police, had been asked to check the locations and categorise the sensitive polling stations in the district, he said.

He added that in 2018, 250 polling stations were declared sensitive, but this time, the number of sensitive polling stations had increased, and for the security of the sensitive polling stations, Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras would be installed to monitor the situation on polling day.

He also said the control room had also been established in the Liaquat Bagh Sports Complex as it was spacious where more vehicles could be parked.

He said that an election monitoring cell and a control room would be established to monitor the sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations and that closed-circuit TV cameras would be installed there.

He further said that in the control room, Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, PTCL, Wasa and other civic bodies’ teams would be deployed round the clock. He said that a total of three objections were received against the establishment of polling stations, but the district administration and election commission would change the venue soon, but the number would be the same.

There are a total of 3,307,083 voters in the district, including 1,703,511 male voters and 1,603,572 female voters. Under new delimitations, Rawalpindi district had six constituencies of the National Assembly and 13 seats of the Provincial Assembly, while Murree district had one seat each of the national and provincial assemblies.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2024