PS-53, 57: arrangements for bye-polls reviewed

Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh Sono Khan Baloch said that every possible measure was being taken to hold the bye elections in PS-53 Tando Mohammad Khan-Hyderabad and PS-57 Badin on February 25 in transparent and peaceful atmosphere. He was presiding over a meeting held at ex-Zila Nazim Secretariat on Saturday to review the security and other necessary arrangements for holding bye-elections.
He asked the Police officers of concerned districts to leave no stone unturned for making foolproof security arrangements during polling process and directed to ensure patrolling in the concerned constituencies to avoid any untoward situation. He directed the concerned Police officers to deploy more policemen at highly sensitive polling stations, and urged upon the deployment of lady police at female polling stations as well.
Sono Khan said he would contact the concerned authorities for the imposition of section 144Cr pc and declaration of holiday in concerned constituencies. In order to meet any eventuality, he directed the concerned District Health Officers to deploy doctors and paramedics at the cluster of polling stations consist on five to six polling stations especially with first-aid facilities. He also directed them to ensure availability of doctors, medicines and ambulances in vicinity of polling process.
The Provincial Election Commissioner directed the Hesco management to exempt the election areas from electricity load-shedding on the polling day and depute their concerned SDOs to remain in close contact with Assistant Commissioners of concerned talukas and to remove faults if any occur during bye-election. He stressed upon maintaining close contact among officials and staff assigned duties in polling process. Later talking to media men, Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Sono Khan Baloch said that after 18th amendment in the constitution no entry would be made in the voter list without CNIC, and added that duplication of voter entry in voter list would automatically be removed through Nadra process.
Earlier, concerned Police officers briefed the meeting about security arrangements during polling in concerned areas particularly at polling stations identified as sensitive and highly sensitive. Besides, DHOs of Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan and Hyderabad informed the Provincial Election Commissioner about arrangements made by them to meet and provide first aid to the people in any emergency situation.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Ahmed Bux Narejo, DIG Sanaullah Abbasi, Deputy Commissioners Badin, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, SSPs Badin, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, District Health Officers, Returning Officers and other concerned officers.