KARACHI: Top election commission, police and provincial administration authorities on Friday reviewed security and other arrangements for the peaceful holding of the second phase of the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput at the Sindh Secretariat. Provincial Election Commissioner Ejaz Anwar Chauhan, Home Secretary Saeed Ahmed Mangrejo, Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Ghulam Nabi Memon, administrative secretaries Akbar Leghari, Khalid Haider Shah, Hanif Channa, Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon, city police chief Javed Alam Odho were present, while commissioner of Hyderabad and deputy commissioners concerned attended the meeting via a video link.

The LG elections are going to be held on July 24 in 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad division.

There are seven districts in Karachi division — East, West, South, Central, Malir, Korangi and Keamari — and nine districts in Hyderabad division — district Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Dadu, Jamshoro, Thatta and Sujawal.

ECP says 563 contestants returned unopposed in Karachi, Hyderabad divisions

9,848 polling stations

Sindh Election Commissioner Chauhan said that 60,000 employees of provincial and federal governments would perform their duties in the second phase of the local government elections.

“There will be 9,848 polling stations in 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad. Of them, 2,573 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive,” he said, adding: “Around 20,180 candidates are contesting in the second phase of the local government elections and 563 of them have been elected unopposed.”

Mr Chauhan further said that the violation of the ECP’s code of conduct in the elections would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

During the meeting, the Sindh police chief said that the law enforcement agency had prepared a security plan for the second phase of the local government elections under which 59,881 personnel would perform security duties along with Rangers.

He added that no negligence would be tolerated in the security arrangements.

CCTV cameras at highly sensitive polling stations

Speaking on the occasion, the chief secretary directed the authorities to install CCTV cameras at all 2,573 highly sensitive polling stations.

He also directed the Karachi and Hyderabad commissioners to ensure all facilities at the polling stations in compliance with the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Dr Rajput said that action would be taken against every employee who was found absent from election duty.

He directed the general administration secretary to hand over the details of employees of all departments to the ECP.

He said: “Section 144 [of the criminal procedure code] will be imposed on display of weapons during elections.”

He directed the commissioners of Karachi and Hyderabad to monitor all arrangements.

It was informed in the meeting that for the second phase of the local government elections, a Whatsapp group of all DCs, SSPs and election officers concerned had also been created in which all information and issues were being resolved in a timely manner.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022