RAWALPINDI: More than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, to be held on August 2 for the migrant seats of the Rawalpindi division, according to the regional police.
Polls in AJK are currently being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. These include polls for the 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Kashmir.
A spokesman for Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa said that a foolproof security plan had been devised to ensure the smooth conduct of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, with the deployment of 4,029 police personnel.
He said 175 polling stations had been set up for the elections in four constituencies of Rawalpindi Division: Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree. The polling stations had been categorised as ‘A’ (highly sensitive), ‘B’ (sensitive) and ‘C’ (normal).
“Providing voters with the right to vote in a safe environment is the top priority of the Rawalpindi regional police,” RPO Alpa said.
All available resources will be utilised to hold free, transparent and fair elections, while special surveillance and effective patrolling will be ensured at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations, the RPO said.
He noted that strict implementation of the security plan would be ensured “at all costs” and that suspicious individuals, activities and illegal weapons would be closely monitored.
The senior police official further said strict legal action would be taken against those violating election laws and the code of conduct, adding that full communication and effective coordination would be maintained with the district administration, Election Commission and other institutions.
“Police officers will be present in the field themselves and monitor election security arrangements. Citizens should abide by the code of conduct and immediately report any suspicious activity to the police,” the RPO said.
3,100 police personnel to be deployed in Rawalpindi district
The Rawalpindi district police have devised a security and traffic plan for the peaceful conduct of the AJK Assembly elections.
A police spokesman said that, as part of the security plan, more than 3,100 district police personnel and 200 traffic police personnel would be deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of polling at 100 polling stations located in Rawalpindi district.
Of the 100 polling stations, 18 have been placed in category A, 45 in category B and 37 in category C based on their sensitivity.
Polling stations have been set up in the areas of Thana City, Ganjmandi, Ratta Amaral, Pirwadhai, Waris Khan, Bani, New Town, Sadiqabad, Chaklala, Civil Lines, Cantt, Race Course, Taxila, Wah Cantt, Saddar Baroni, Dhamial, Chakri, Chontra, Rawat, Mandara, Gujar Khan, Jatli, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta.
Foolproof security arrangements have also been made for the safe delivery of polling materials, the spokesperson said.
City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera said that implementation of the election code of conduct and the rules and regulations formulated by the Election Commission would be ensured.
Ensuring the safety of citizens and ensuring peace and security is the top priority, the CPO said, adding that foolproof security arrangements will be ensured till the completion of the election process.
Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process in AJK, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice.
Meanwhile, the regional administration and the now-banned Joint Awami Action Committee have been at odds over various issues, most notably the committee’s demand to abolish the 12 reserved seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly.
