RAWALPINDI: Considering the security situation and intelligence regarding terror threats, police have been instructed to ensure foolproof security for political and religious leaders and foreign media representatives visiting Pakistan for the February 8 elections.

In view of the prevailing security situation, the Rawalpindi district police along with Special Branch officials have started joint search operations in different areas to ensure peaceful election campaigns and polling.

City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani directed the sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) and SHOs to ensure the security of all those political leaders who have been contesting elections in their respective areas and to inform them about the terror threat on a daily basis. The political and religious leaders have also been advised to themselves ensure their security.

The police officers concerned will have to ensure the implementation of the election commission’s code of conduct and other directives. In any election, authorities take steps to ensure the safety of election candidates, voters, and other stakeholders involved in election campaigns. The CPO had already issued guidelines designed to keep candidates safe while out on the campaign trail for general elections.

The guidelines were issued after the Punjab IGP hinted that some political leaders were facing a terrorist threat. He, however, withheld the names of political leaders who had been facing life threats.

In light of intelligence reports, all senior police officers have been directed to hold security briefings with respective candidates and make it compulsory to follow the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission and the instructions issued by the Home Department to avoid any untoward incident.

The police have also decided not to allow the political party candidates to hold processions and corner meetings in open places so that they could ensure foolproof security arrangements for the candidates.

The police have been asked to ensure that whenever a corner meeting or procession is held, the political party management should be instructed to provide a walk-through gate. As per the instructions, there should be both in and out gates, as one gate should never be allowed to be used for the purpose.

“Where there is a corner meeting or public procession is to be held, a search operation should be conducted in that area one day before the gathering and the whereabouts of all the tenants and owners should be collected,” according to police. The venue of the public corner meeting would be searched by the Bomb Disposal Squad of the Special Branch for a clearance certificate, whereas the venue of the corner meeting and public procession would be approved by the Special Branch.

Under the guidelines, the stage should be erected in the presence of the district police and special branch officials, and after the stage is set, it should be handed over to the district police, after the inspection, so that armed guards can be deployed on the stage to ensure foolproof security.

“Parking of vehicles should be at least 600 yards away from the venue of public meetings and every vehicle should be checked with a metal detector.”

According to the guidelines, the names of the receptionists and the people who would be present on the stage at a political gathering would be provided to the police in advance for their security clearance.

Under the guideline, rooftops of houses and hotels should not be used as a stage and containers should be preferred as a stage instead.

Binoculars should be provided to police personnel deployed on the rooftops of the buildings, the guidelines said, adding, “Police have also been directed to check all those guests staying in hotels and inns daily and ensure that nobody rents their house to any stranger without police verification.”

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024