ECP informs parliamentary panel: 20,000 polling stations declared sensitive

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday informed a parliamentary panel that 20,000 polling stations have been declared sensitive but no final decision has taken yet about deployment of armed forces personnel during the upcoming general election scheduled for July 25. The Senate Standing Committee on Interior met here with Rehman Malik in the chair on Monday where Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob gave a detailed briefing about the security arrangements on the election day of July 25.
Yaqoob said that in his personal opinion, elections can be sabotaged and he was ready to brief the committee in-camera in this regard. He said that there are demands for deploying army personnel at polling stations, but they will have to see whether such a huge number personnel could be spared or not. There is another view that army personnel should be deployed at 20,000 sensitive polling stations. He further said that initial meetings have been held with the Army in this regard.
The committee was briefed about the installation of CCTV cameras at the polling stations, deputing policemen and armed forces personnel, motivation campaigns on urging voters to vote among other matters.
Rehman Malik said that free, fair and secured election should be the dream of every Pakistani and ensuring security on the polling day and polling stations is the foremost responsibility as some anti-Pakistan elements can target politicians and the people on the elections day to sabotage the process.
Yaqoob told the meeting about the measures being devised to be implemented and taken on the polling day and said the ECP has a perfect guideline in shape of Election Commission Act which will be implemented in its true letter and spirit. The committee raised questions regarding availability, functioning and installation of CCTVs in 20,000 polling stations as proposed by the ECP.
The committee also decided to seek responses from chief secretaries of provinces on progress on the matter. Members of the committee suggested giving proper eating and transport facility to policemen and other staff who will be on duty on election day.
The meeting was told that there are 85,000 polling stations and if 4-5 policemen are required per station, the number amounts to at least 300,000 policemen. It was told that no final decision has been taken yet about deployment of armed forces personnel. The matter of safety of ballot papers and polling staff was also discussed.
Malik asked what the criterion is to identify the security risks, to which the secretary ECP answered that based on intelligence information, some polling stations are marked as at risk. He said that transportation of the ballot papers will be made highly secured as the pictures before dispatching the ballot papers shall be sent online to the Election Commissioner who will later verify that no change is done to any ballot box. The secretary Election Commission informed the committee that he thinks that elections could be sabotaged for which the ECP is taking necessary measures to ensure free and fair elections.
Malik said that he will be writing a letter to all political parties of the country to attend the meeting of ECP on upcoming elections and two members of the committee will also be attending the same meeting for the input of this committee.
He said if ECP feels the need of helicopter to monitor far-flung areas, this committee will request the concerned authorities for the provision of helicopters, saying that this committee will be fully assisting the Election Commission during whole process of elections.
He announced the committee will be visiting each provincial headquarter of the ECP after June 15, 2018.
The committee strongly condemned recent wave of terrorist attacks on personnel of Pakistan Army, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and police in the province of Balochistan wherein a few days ago Pak-Army Colonel Sohail Abid embraced martyrdom and two officers of police embraced martyrdom on Sunday last.
"The committee strongly condemns terrorist attacks on Pakistan Army, LEAs and police in Balochistan, expresses great grief over the loss of precious lives and expresses heartfelt condolences with bereaved families and pays rich tribute to the martyrs for their unmatched sacrifices for our beloved country- Pakistan," said Senator A Rehman Malik.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan, Senator Kalsoom Perveen, Senator Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Senator Mian Ateeq Sheikh, Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati and Senator Azam Khan Musakhel as members of the committee. Former Deputy Chairman Senate Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri attended the meeting as a special invitee. Secretary interior, chairman NADRA, director general NADRA, inspector general police Islamabad, DIG Security Islamabad, additional inspector general police Punjab, DPO Narowal, DIG KP police, and chief commissioner Islamabad, among other officials, attended the meeting.
Senator Javed Abbasi expressed serious reservations over the nomination of controversial caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying that there is a news report that the nominated caretaker CM had paid a heavy amount to PTI. He requested the ECP to take serious notice of nomination of caretaker chief minister and interfere in the matter.
Malik while expressing grave concerns over the news asked the ECP to initiate an inquiry into the matter.
Senator Azam Khan Swati said that after bringing into the notice of PTI Chief Imran Khan, the nomination of controversial caretaker chief minister was suspended.
The committee was informed that the nominated caretaker chief minister is brother of a senator of PTI so the chances of rigging shall be increased if he is brought as caretaker Chief Minister.
Election Commission of Pakistan will hold an inquiry into the matter and will inform the committee soon. Malik said that for free, fair and clean election, the caretaker setup should be highly competent and neutral and should be nominated with consensus of all political parties and element of nepotism and bribery should not be involved.
Malik asked all private TV channels to dedicate at least half an hour in 24 hours for the awareness of elections in coordination with Election Commission.
Regarding the attack on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the additional IGP Punjab told the committee that the investigation is underway and results will be shared with the committee soon.
He said some five suspects were arrested who belong to a religious-political party however he can give the in-camera briefing in this regard. Malik said that negligence at the part of those security officials who were deputed on minister' security should be identified and addressed as it is matter of grave concern that minister of interior of the country is not safe and secure.
While taking serious notice of the leaking of video statement of the attacker, Malik directed the additional IGP Punjab to immediately suspend the officers who were investigating the culprit and recorded the video and made it public and viral within 15 minutes, putting the life of the minister further in danger.
He said those who are responsible for the recording and spreading of the said video should be identified within next 48 hours and should be dealt under the law.
The committee expressed concerns over the threat assessment list shared with the committee by secretary interior and called for its review. The committee expressed dissatisfaction over the threat assessment list, saying that many politicians who are even not under threat are enjoying security while those who are under serious security threats are deprived of security.
The chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior formed a committee headed by Senator Javed Abbasi with its members Senator Attiq Sheikh and Senator Azam Khan Muakhel to review the list and put those names in the list who were earlier targeted.
The members of the committee expressed great concerns over the withdrawal of security from Senator Ghafoor Haidri who had escaped serious suicide attacks in the past and asked the secretary interior to immediately depute security for his protection.