Security tightened, forces deployed as Karachi braces for LG polls

KARACHI: The Sindh government, in consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has decided to deploy a force of 35,057 police personnel and 7,400 Rangers at polling stations in Karachi as a part of the security arrangements for local body polls scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

The security personnel will be deployed at all the 4,037 polling stations of the metropolis, of which 1,714 have been declared as most sensitive and 1,329 as sensitive.

The inspector general of Sindh police, Ghulam Hyder Jamali, while briefing the Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah at CM House on Friday said "there are three categories of force deployment such as static, mobile and motorcycle patrolling and the reserve platoons".

He claimed that deployment of force has been made on the basis of assessment of law and order situation and sensitivity of polling stations as per their history.

"Rangers will be assisting police in ensuring a secure environment," he added.

The Sindh police chief said that Pakistan Army was also deploying 10 companies, each company has a force of 80 personnel. Similarly 7,400 Rangers personnel equipped with weapons and other necessary gadgets will also perform security duties.

"The Rangers would patrol through 88 mobiles and 180 motorcycles," he added.

The Sindh chief minister directed the IG to ensure proper security during the polling and till the counting and transferring of votes.

"Some times serious incidents happen during the counting process, therefore security must be provided throughout the day," the chief minister said.

Provincial Home Secretary Mohammad Waseem told Qaim that there are three zones in the city — South, East and West zones having seven districts.

There are 23 union councils and 213 union committees, where election for the seat of chairmen and vice chairmen will be held, he added.

The number of general seats for union council is 922 while for union committee the number of general seats comes to 852.

Waseem said that 12 political parties including PPP, PML-N, MQM-A, PTI, Sunni Tehrik, JUI-F, Jamat-e-Islami, JUI-P, ANP, PML-F, MQM-H, Qaumi Awami Tahreek and a large number of independent candidates are contesting election.

The briefing was also attended by Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Almuddin Bullo and other relevant officials.