PESHAWAR, March 22: Besides spending Rs429 million on the next elections in the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will also deploy around 50,000 personnel of law-enforcement agencies at local polling stations.

This was revealed during a high-level meeting chaired by provincial caretaker Chief Minister Justice (r) Tariq Pervez Khan at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Friday.

The participants reviewed the overall law and order situation and preparations for the coming elections in the province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to ensure foolproof security of voters.

Provincial inspector general of police Mohammad Akbar Hoti and home and tribal affairs secretary Azam Khan briefed the meeting about the law and order situation and preparations of law-enforcement agencies for elections.

The chief minister reiterated his resolve to hold the upcoming elections in free, fair and transparent manner and peaceful atmosphere.

He called for peaceful environment for the holding of fair and transparent elections and directed the relevant quarters to take all necessary measure in time to maintain law and order and implement the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan for election campaign in letter and spirit.

The chief minister issued directions for ensuring transparency in the formation of election monitoring teams and said the relevant quarters should curtail expenses and make economical use of funds.

Local government secretary Aurangzeb and Provincial Election Commissioner Sonoo Khan told participants that there were 35 general seats of National Assembly and 99 of provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Fata had 12 National Assembly seats. They said a total of 12,001 polling stations and 34,220 polling booths would be established across the province and Fata to facilitate 13.74 million registered voters during elections.

According to them, 32 district returning officers, 145 returning officers, 164 assistant returning officers, 12,001 presiding officers, 64,425 assistant presiding officers and 34,220 polling officers will be appointed in the province and Fata.

The participants were also briefed about the code of conduct issued by ECP for political parties, candidates, polling staff, security personnel and observers. On the occasion, the chair ordered early removal of oversized posters, hoardings and banners in the city.

Additional chief secretary of Fata Dr Tashfeen Khan informed the meeting about the preparations for elections in tribal areas and difficulties in making arrangements for internally displaced persons.

Commandant of Frontier Constabulary Abdul Majeed Marwat, Peshawar commissioner Tariq Jamil and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.