ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting was given a detailed briefing by Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob on security arrangements on Election Day, July 25.
The Committee was told about installation of CCTV cameras in polling stations, deputing policemen and armed forces personnel, motivation campaigns on urging voters to vote among other matters.
The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Abdur Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House on Monday and was attended among others by Senators Mian Ateeq Sheikh, Sardar Azam Musakhel, Chaudhry Muhammad Tanvir, Javed Abbasi, Azam Swati, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Kalsoom Parveen, Asad Ali Junejo, Special Secretary Interior, Secretary Election Commission, Chairman NADRA, IGP Islamabad, Additional DIG Punjab, Chief Commissioner Islamabad among other officials.
The Committee raised questions regarding availability, functioning and installation of CCTVs in 20,000 polling stations as proposed by ECP. Committee also decided to seek responses from Chief Secretaries of Provinces on progress on the matter. Members of the Committee suggested to provide proper food and transport facility to policemen and other staff who will be on duty on election day.
The meeting was told that there are 85,000 polling stations and if 4-5 policemen are required per station the number amounts to at least 300,000 policemen required on election day. It was told that no final decision has been taken yet about deployment of armed forces personnel. The matter of safety of ballot papers and polling staff was also discussed.
Regarding the attack on Federal Interior Minister, the Committee was told by Secretary Interior that the investigation is underway and results will be shared with the Committee. The Committee expressed concerns on the threat assessment list shared with the Committee and called for its review. – NNI