KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all sensitive polling stations in three constituencies in the province where by-elections are scheduled be held this and next month.

The decision came at a meeting on Thursday which reviewed security and administrative arrangements for the by-polls to be held in Umerkot, Malir, Sanghar and Tharparkar between Jan 18 and Feb 21.

“Provincial Election Commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chohan informed participants in the meeting that by-polls in Umerkot are to be held on Jan 18. There are 128 polling stations in the district, out of which 50 are highly sensitive and the meeting has decided to install CCTV cameras at the most sensitive polling stations,” said a statement issued after the meeting.

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, who chaired the meeting, issued directives that all required facilities be provided to the election commission for the by-polls.

“The chief secretary asked the election commissioner to extend polling time keeping in view standard operating procedures for coronavirus during by-elections and the commissioner informed that the request for extension of polling time has already been received and a decision in this regard will be made soon,” it said.

The chief secretary also issued directives to secretary of general administration Naseemul Ghani Sehto, Mirpurkhas commissioner and Umerkot deputy commissioner to remain in touch with the election commission and ensure provision of all facilities for the by-polls.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had decided in what was seen by many as a sudden move last month to hold by-elections in eight constituencies of national and provincial assemblies, which had been put on hold because of coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting also discussed the issue of encroachment on lands of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and other government agencies in the province. “The chief secretary directed the secretaries of all departments to submit details of illegal occupation of government departments’ land,” said the statement.

“He directed the secretaries and deputy commissioners to submit details of land occupation within a week and said that the railway land should be vacated in collaboration with Pakistan Railways,” it said.

Pakistan Railways’ officials informed the meeting that the KCR’s route had almost been cleared of encroachments. There were some encroachments near Kalapul and they were being removed with the help of district administration, officials informed the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue Qazi Shahid Pervaiz, all administrative secretaries, all divisional commissioners, Karachi AIG Ghulam Nabi Memon, KMC administrator and all deputy commissioners of Sindh.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2021