KARACHI: The deployment of armed forces at over 13,000 “sensitive and highly sensitive” polling stations across the province would start on Monday (Feb 5), announced caretaker Sindh Information Minister Ahmed Shah on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that the personnel would remain deployed there till Feb 10 to ensure security during and after the general elections to be held on Feb 8.

Although he did not mention the number of troops deployed across the province, he said the provincial administration had entered the final phase of arrangements for the day of polling.

“From February 5 to February 10, sensitive polling stations will have deployment of Pakistan armed forces,” he told a press conference.

He said that keeping in view the Election Commission’s directives, necessary preparations were being made and holidays of polling staff had been cancelled. “Presiding officers will not go home until their job is done.”

It’s pertinent to mention that the ECP had made it clear that the armed forces would be deployed only “outside the most sensitive polling stations” during the general elections. The ECP in a notification said that it had obtained the services of the armed forces for assistance in ensuring security arrangements for conducting the general elections.

The information minister said the caretaker government had already allocated funds for all essential requirements.

He said that the total number of polling stations in Sindh was 19,600, including 5,976 ‘normal’ polling stations, 6,531 ‘sensitive’, and over 6,000 ‘highly sensitive’ polling stations.

For the security of the polling process, he said more than 125,000 police officers and a Rapid Action Force of 7,000 troops will be deployed.

He said the planning phase of the security arrangements was over and now all agencies were collaborating with the ECP for their effective role.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2024