KARACHI, Aug 16: The former city nazim, Niamatullah Khan, has urged the Army and Rangers officials to maintain enhanced security in nine towns of the city on the polling day for the local government elections, being held on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, the former nazim also requested President Pervez Musharraf to directly monitor the local government polls in Karachi and establish a special cell, if necessary.

He thanked the Army for its decision to supervise the local government polls on his request.

He termed the Liaquatabad, Gulberg, North Nazimabad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Jamshed Town, Korangi, Malir and Shah Faisal towns as sensitive’ areas, urging enhanced deployment of security personnel to prevent, what he called, threats to voters and polling staff, rigging and bogus voting.

“We are thankful to the Rangers, particularly Maj-Gen Javed Zia, who has assured us complete security,” Mr Niamat said.

Making an appeal to voters for casting ballots, he said: “I expect foolproof security on the polling day by the Rangers and the Army.”—PPI