ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has informed the Election Commission of Pakistan that it will require more security personnel for the general elections than the number requested for the May 14 polls, which could not be held.
In view of the violent attacks on private, government and defense installations, buildings, etc. by PTI protesters on May 9, the Punjab government is alert and has informed the Election Commission that now all the polling stations in the province are either in the high category. I will come sensitive or sensitive.
There shall be no polling station that falls under the category of general security requirements. The Election Commission, which was recently briefed by the Punjab government on the law and order situation and security requirements for the next general elections, asked the provincial administration to prepare details of the security requirements.
Now the security requirements will be framed in the light of two categories – A- Highly Sensitive Polling Stations and B- Sensitive Polling Stations. This means that the Punjab Police will need more military personnel than what was asked for earlier. For the elections on May 14, which could not be held due to non-availability of funds and failure of the Defense Authority to release the required number of soldiers for election duties, the Punjab Government for their deployment. There was a shortfall of 385,485 security personnel required. At the polling stations
In the security plan submitted by the Punjab government to the ECP for the May 14 polls, there were 13,071 category A (highly sensitive) polling stations, 18,293 category B (sensitive) polling stations and 18,293 category C (normal) polling stations. The number of polling stations was 20906. The total number of polling stations was 52,270. The security plan stated that 11 security personnel are required for each category A polling station. Nine security personnel were required for each category B polling station while five security personnel were required for each category C polling station. The May 14 polls called for a total strength of 466,506 personnel, including 53,555 required for patrols, pickets and DRO/RO offices. The Punjab government had said it had 81,050 police personnel for election duties, while the shortfall was 385,485.
This shortfall was required to be met by the Pakistan Army, which was unable to spare the large number of personnel required for electoral duty due to its primary responsibility of border protection and security and dealing with the challenges of terrorism. In view of the Punjab government’s security plan for the MA-14 elections, the ECP informed the Supreme Court that police deployment during pre-poll, poll day, post-poll activities, implementation of the code of conduct is necessary. . Security to dignitaries. The ECP had told the Supreme Court that “Thus, if the Punjab Police is not co-ordinated with other law enforcement agencies, the security plan of Punjab to provide fool-proof security to the voters, election staff and the public at large will not work.” Now, in view of the recent talks between the Punjab government and the ECP, the Punjab government has been asked to prepare a new security plan for the general elections.
Sources say that the need for additional personnel for election duties will be more than before. Similar demands will be raised in other provinces, especially KPK and Balochistan. A source said that in the current situation, the availability of required number of security personnel for the next general elections will remain a big question.
