KARACHI: Some quarters want delay in elections but there is no reason for the delay, and we want that free, fair and impartial election to be held on time so that country can be put on the path of development.
This was said by Caretaker Advisor for Special Education Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz while addressing a press conference here on Thursday in Karachi Press Club (KPC) for briefing about the code of conduct and arrangements for the general elections.
Nawaz said media has played an important role regarding the elections. He said media should create awareness amongst people and to encourage them for casting their vote in the general election 2018.
He said that there are 5673 sensitive polling stations in Sindh, adding hidden cameras will be installed there to monitor the polling stations.
These cameras would be obtained on rent from the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and it would cost around Rs70million.
He said If we purchase these cameras the cost would be around Rs4 billion, adding that hard disks of the 24-hour recording would be handed over to the ECP.
He said we are also responsible for security of the gatherings, corner meetings of political parties.
He said home department and police department had held several meetings for making bold decisions to maintain law and order situation on the Election Day. He said that there are no chances of rigging because the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has already been assigned the task to install the CCTV cameras. The process would be completed till July 22 and all polling stations would be ready by 23rd July.
He said all arrangements such availability of water, electricity, generators, batteries are being ensured at all polling stations.
Nawaz said that the Rangers were assigned on polling stations on the order of the ECP.
However, he said that along with them some 100,000 policemen will also deployed at different polling stations throughout the province.
He further elaborated that in case of any security concern; both the forces will be alerted and will be encouraged to reach the place of incident as soon as possible. He said that 16 check posts have been established inside border polling stations of the province.
He said 122 government employees were given warning to avoid supporting any political party and 106 others were given show cause notices.
The law and order situation will be maintained in province at all costs, he said, adding neither police protocol nor private security guards are allowed for the candidates.