CEC REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS FOR BYE-ELECTION IN PK-87 SHANGLA-I

Islamabad, the 24th January 2011.-      A high-level meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan to review arrangements for conducting bye-election in Constituency No. PK-87 Shangla-I to be held on 29th January 2011.  Mr. Qamar Zaman, Secretary Interior; Arbab M. Arif, Home Secretary, KPK; M. Yaqoob Choudhry, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Mr. Najeebullah Khan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Interior; Qazi Jamil, DIG Malakand; Mr. Jehanzeb Khan, DPO Shangla; Mr. Imtiaz Alam, Acting Secretary, ECP; Mr. Sher Afgan, Provincial Election Commissioner, KPK; Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khan, Joint Secretary, ECP; Sh. Jalil Ahmed, deputy Secretary (Elections); Mr. Khalid Waheed, District Returning Officer and other senior officers of the ECP participated in the meeting.
 
The District Returning Officer briefed the participants about the present situation in the Constituency and informed that 102 polling stations have been established in which 43 have been declared most sensitive, 44 sensitive, and the remaining 15 polling stations as normal. But keeping in view the apprehensions of polling personnel, an adequate number of military forces should be deployed to create peaceful atmosphere during the polling process.
 
The Home Secretary, KPK, Arbab M. Arif briefed that law and order is not the major problem rather weather condition could be the major problem on the polling day.
 
The DIG, Malakand Division, Qazi Jamil informed that threats are available but we have chalked out a comprehensive contingent plan i-e 700 police personnel of Malakand and 1100 additional force from the region have been deployed. In addition, Quick Response Force and six bomb disposal squad have also been deployed for smooth conduct of the said bye-election. A Control Room has also been set-up for the said purpose.
 
Secretary Interior, Government of Pakistan informed that the police have sufficient capability to conduct the bye-election in a peaceful manner and assured that he will take the matter for providing further necessary forces in the Constituency.
 
The Hon’ble Acting Chief Election Commissioner directed that effective security measures should be adopted to facilitate the voters to cast their votes at the polling stations without fear. He also directed the Home Secretary and DIG to co-ordinate with the Armed Forces authorities already deployed in Tehsil Alpuri and Besham for effective patrolling by the Army Personnel during the bye-election.