Lahore Police devises plan for security of polling stations

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Lahore: The Lahore Police have devised an integrated and comprehensive plan for the security of polling stations ahead of by-election of National Assembly’s constituency NA-133 scheduled to be held on December 05 in Lahore.

The Capital City Police Officer(CCPO) Lahore Additional IG Fayyaz Ahmad Dev said on Friday, foolproof security would be provided to polling stations, staff and the citizens visiting these stations for voting process. No one will be allowed to take the law into their hands and disturb the polling process as the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan would be strictly enforced in letter and spirits for smooth and peaceful conduct of polling, Fayyaz Ahmad Dev pledged. More than two thousand police officers and officials including six SsP, 14 SDPOs, 44 SHOs would be deployed on security duty at by-elections day. Moreover 52 teams of Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit as well as seven teams of Quick Response Force would also ensure effective patrolling around the polling stations. Law enforcement agencies will also make use of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) installed by the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) as well as District Government in different parts of the constituency to maximise monitoring and surveillance. Meanwhile, senior police officers would be constantly monitoring the security arrangements while either on patrol or through control room, the CCPO added . Police would also cordon off areas surrounding polling stations and use barricades, barbed wires and tents for this purpose. As far as providing security to corner meetings, rallies and gatherings was concerned, police had asked candidates to inform law enforcement agencies about their activities in advance. Fayaz Ahmad Dev also vowed to take action against the law breakers for violating code of conduct. A special control room has also been set up at Government Graduate College for Women’s Township where teams of police, district government and law enforcement agencies will continuously monitor the polling process. The CCPO Lahore directed SsP and SDPOs to personally check the security arrangements at the polling stations under their supervision. He further said that voters would be allowed to enter the polling stations only after complete body search through checking mechanism. Snipers on high rise buildings around the polling station would keep a close eye on suspicious persons or activities. Parking and polling camps would be kept at a safe distance away from the polling stations. He directed police officers that use of security gadgets including fences, metal detectors, walk through gates, barriers and barbed wire should be ensured. As many as 254 polling stations have been set up for the polling process of NA-133 including 22 polling stations of A category, 198 of B category whereas 34 polling stations of C category. Around 200 separate polling stations have been set up for men and women and 54 mixed polling stations have also been set up.
As far traffic management finalized by CTO Lahore Muntazir Mehdi ,on the election day, extra-contingents of traffic wardens would be deployed to maintain the flow. The traffic police have separately devised a plan according to the activity and traffic congestion on the day. According to the plan, there will be an additional force for areas with increased election activity. Similarly, they will also identify timeslots when congestion on the roads tends to multiply and around that time wardens will be asked to establish diversions to maintain flow of traffic. In addition, reserves of wardens will remain be on standby and reach the spot if needed.

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