All arrangements have been made for holding free and fair elections in the province, said Home Minister Tariq Pervez at a press conference here on Saturday.
Pervez said the interim set up had a mandate for conducting impartial elections in a peaceful and congenial atmosphere.
He said the maintenance of law and order and providing security to the public were the top priorities of the interim set up.
He said, “The interim government is completely impartial and is determined to enforce the election code of conduct.”
“Any one found violating the code of conduct would be dealt with an iron hand,” he added.
Pervez said some minor violations regarding publicity materials had been reported. These complaints, he said, were being addressed daily. “A few cases of firing and intimidation have also been reported and police are taking impartial action against the suspects,” he added.
In reply to a question, Pervez said ‘sensitive’ constituencies and polling stations had been identified. He said elite police would be deployed in these areas and paramilitary forces could also be used if required. He said motorcycle police squads and police mobiles will also cover polling stations.
“Some issues, however, directly fall within the purview of the returning officers who have magisterial powers to deal with them,” he added.
Pervez said in addition to local media, international observers would also be monitoring the election process particularly on the polling day. He asked media representatives to remain vigilant and report violations of the code of conduct.
Home Secretary Shahid Khan, Inspector General of Police Aftab Sultan, Divisional Commissioner Mushtaq Ahmad Anjum and Faisalabad RPO Javed Islam were also present at the press conference.
Earlier on Saturday, the cabinet committee attended a briefing to discuss the law and order situation as well as for election arrangements.
The divisional commissioner informed that as many as 2,300 volunteers had been temporarily recruited by the Civil Defence Department to assist police on the polling day.
The home minister said the security plan should be rehearsed ahead of the polling day.
Search operation launched
Faisalabad. Police on Saturday launched an operation looking for known criminals and those suspected of links with militant and extremist organisations to avoid an untoward incident during the general elections.
Sub-Inspector Ameer Nasir Javed, a police spokesman, said religious schools and Afghan settlements were searched in the operation. He said several residents of Jhang Bazaar, Mohallah Rasheedabad and Jhang Road were asked to submit surety bonds that they would not break the law during elections.
City Police Officer (CPO) Riffat Mukhtar Raja told The Express Tribune that the police had also decided to list the people residing in rented houses.
He said police had been asked to round up all those without documents showing they were residents of the area.
“This exercise would help the law enforcing agencies keep peace during the election campaign as well as on the polling day,” CPO said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.