ECP asked to hold Punjab, NA polls on same day

Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman on Wednesday proposed to the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) that elections within the province in addition to these for the Nationwide Meeting – that means common polls – be held on the identical day to save lots of expenditures.

In the meantime, IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar knowledgeable the election supervisor that holding of polls within the province could be a “tough activity” till a police operation towards terrorists, anticipated to be accomplished in 4 to 5 months, was over.

The ECP assembly, which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, was attended by election fee secretary, finance secretary and senior officers.

Addressing the members of the assembly, the Punjab chief secretary mentioned that the provincial authorities had began preparations for Nationwide Meeting by-polls together with devising of a safety plan and set up of CCTV cameras in any respect delicate polling stations.

Learn extra: Alvi urges ECP to announce Ok-P, Punjab election dates

Whereas stating that there was a “severe risk” of terrorism in Punjab, he mentioned a management room could be arrange in every district of the province in the course of the elections.

He maintained that holding elections individually would make it tougher to supply safety for the polls.

He claimed that Rs42 billion could be wanted to take care of legislation and order in the course of the elections, noting that the provincial authorities was going through a monetary deficit.

Apart from, the chief secretary additionally contended that administrative officers could be busy holding costs in verify in the course of the month of Ramazan.

He added that legislation enforcement personnel had been deployed for the safety of mosques and spiritual gatherings in the course of the holy month.

The chief secretary additional mentioned officers and legislation enforcement businesses could be busy conducting census beginning in March, noting that kids’s examinations and polio vaccination marketing campaign would even be held throughout this era.

Additional explaining the difficulties, he mentioned wheat procurement season was due in March and that the provincial authorities officers had been assigned jobs on this regard.

He mentioned the legislation enforcement businesses wouldn’t be capable of present foolproof safety in case elections weren’t held on identical day.

The IG Punjab instructed the assembly that terror assaults and threats had been growing within the province.

He mentioned since December 2022, a complete of 213 terror incidents had been prevented of which the police had prior info.

The IG, whereas submitting completely different studies on terrorism, noticed that varied terrorist teams had been current in Bhakkar, Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan.

He mentioned as sought by the ECP, 412,854 police personnel had been required for the holding of polls in a peaceable method, including that Punjab Police solely had a pressure of 115,000.

He famous that to fill the deficit of 300,000 personnel, the providers of Pakistan Military and Rangers could be required.

The IG maintained that the holding of elections could be a “tough activity” till the police operation towards terrorists in kutcha areas of South Punjab and different districts of province, anticipated to be accomplished in 4 to 5 months, was over.