Polling stations: Army will be deputed inside, outside: ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday held a high-level meeting to review security issues and preparation for general election 2018.
The secretary defence, secretary interior, four provincial chief secretaries, director general military operations (DGMO), inspectors general of police, additional chief secretary Fata, and chief commissioner Islamabad attended the meeting.
The secretary Election Commission gave a comprehensive briefing about the preparation regarding general election 2018. During the meeting, the participants also reviewed the security arrangement plan for the general election 2018. The ECP decided that provincial governments will be responsible for installation of CCTV cameras at all sensitive polling stations.
The ECP will make code of conduct for law enforcement personnel under the Election Act 2017. Pakistan Army will be deputed inside and outside of all the polling stations. The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will release funds for installation of CCTV cameras at polling stations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The provincial governments will also provide foolproof security to all district returning officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers, provincial election commissioners, regional election commissioners, and district election commissioners. The candidates who are contesting the general election 2018 will also be provided with foolproof security.
The ECP will also summon a meeting with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NECTA) for broader coordination for security during general election 2018. It was decided in the meeting that the code of conduct issued by the ECP would be implemented in letter and spirit. According to the details, an estimated 21,580 candidates of national and provincial assemblies from all over the country have submitted a security of about Rs 490 million.
Nearly Rs 180 million were submitted by 6,063 candidates of the National Assembly while Rs 300 million were submitted by 15,400 candidates of provincial assemblies. According to the Election Act, the National Assembly candidate is bound to submit Rs 30,000, while provincial assembly's candidate will submit Rs 20,000. Moreover, the Act also states that in case of getting less than one-fourth majority votes, the submitted fee will be confiscated.