Apr 17, 2013
LAHORE - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Aftab Sultan on Tuesday warned that there would be zero tolerance for violators of the code of conduct prescribed for the general elections 2013 as the police are ordered to deal with them strictly.
The provincial police chief said that concrete steps are being taken to provide foolproof security to the national leaders and heads of the political parties during the campaigns and on election days as well. “In very district, the police are directed to review the security situation on daily basis and adjust changes in the security plan, where and when are required,” Aftab Sultan told reporters while addressing a news conference at the Central Police Office. Responding questions, the Punjab IGP said that at least 97,000 retired security officials, apart from policemen, would be deployed on security duties in the province. He further said that those political leaders who wanted to keep security guards with them would have to hire the guards from the security agencies registered with the Home Department. “But, they would have to get prior permission from the concerned District Police Officer,” he said. About the security of sensitive polling stations, Aftab said that at least eight security officials would be deployed around the polling stations of A category while four officials would remain on-guard at each polling station of B, and C-category.
Apart from this, he added, special units of Pakistan Rangers and Pak Army would remain on standby and they could be called immediately in case of any untoward happening. A comprehensive strategy has also been evolved to control any possible terror attempt and the violators of the law at any stage would be dealt with iron hands, the IGP underlined. IGP said all the DPOs and RPOs were posted purely on merit across the province and the purpose of the transfers and postings was to ensure holding of free, fair, and transparent elections.
The police have already launched a clamp down on the violators of the Code of Conduct for the general elections and 58 people in five districts have been arrested in the last three days. The police registered 48 cases against the code violators and recovered illegal weapons from the accused. The arrested activists belong to different political parties. Special security and intelligence cell at regional, district and divisional level are made operational under the direct supervision of Punjab IGP Aftab Sultan. On Monday, the first monitoring report was presented to the IGP about five districts – Gujrat, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Sialkot and Kasur with details of the crackdown. The special task forces, also called intelligence and security committees, are given the tasks to implement the Master-Plan to ward off any possible terror attempt besides providing security cover to the leading personalities, and international delegates during the elections 2013.
The committees would not only share intelligence with the security committees on regular basis but also actively work on the threat assessments. The committees are also directed to properly implement the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan for the Election 2013. In the light of the Master Plan, it will be the responsibility of the committees to review security plan.
(The Nation)
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