Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob has said that District Returning Officers (DROs) have demanded deployment of Rangers or Pakistan Army to cope with any untoward situation during the 1st phase of Local Government elections in Sindh province. He said that during the polling around 41,000 police personnels would be deployed in eight districts of the province and a total of 4600,000 voters to exercise their right of franchise.
While briefing to journalists on Wednesday after the meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), former Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza about the arrangements for 1st phase of LG polls in Sindh province. He said that there were three suggestions to deploy the Rangers or Army in the meeting, first was to deploy troops at polling stations, second the force be deployed at Tehsil level and third was for any specific area where there were chances of any disturbance.
Yaqoob said these suggestions would be placed before the authorities of Pakistan Army and they would mull over it according to the availability of troops. He said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), former Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza took briefing about the law and order situation, force deployment demands and other arrangements, on the day. He said Sindh government had to provide the ECP details of its requirements for Rangers and Army's deployment along with obvious description and reasons behind it.
Over 10,000 candidates would contest the election in 1st phase directly on 11,200 seats, adding that 37,000 polling staff would perform duties. He said that overall situation of law and order in the province was stable. He said that during the briefing Inspector General of Police Sindh informed the CEC that so far no any untoward situation had emerged during the polls campaign. Code of Conduct for first phase of LG polls also came under discussion, he pointed out.
He said keeping in view Muharram-ul-Haram no any big activity was scheduled till 10 Muharram and due to the Chehlum on December 3, ECP had changed the date of third phase election to December 5. Commissioners of Larkana and Sukkur had given assurance for their support during the polls, he said.