May 08, 2013
RAWALPINDI, May 7: The Punjab home department has directed divisional police chiefs across the province to made adequate security arrangements for foreign observers visiting Pakistan to monitor the May 11 elections and issued a detailed security guideline in this respect.
The government has decided that the foreign observers would restrict their activities to elections and polling stations only, and would not be permitted to visit areas where the security was volatile.
The international observers have been directed to report to the local police and provide details of their lodgings and contact details for coordination. Furthermore, the details of the local coordinators must also be provided to the local police.
“The foreign observers will have to keep contact details of host organisations, diplomatic missions, police emergency numbers and of other relevant persons,” the security guideline said.
According to the guideline, the police have been authorised to stop observers from taking part in activities that may hinder polling or create a security problem. The observers would not be allowed to visit other cities without first informing the authorities concerned.
After their arrival in Pakistan, foreign observers would have to report to the Security Branch of the local police, and provide contact details.
Unscheduled visits without appropriate security, and visits to areas which do not have security clearance, are to be avoided. Similarly, late night visits are to be avoided and overnight stays outside designated places must be brought to the notice of the security personnel.
“The registration number of vehicles being used and contact details of the drivers must be intimated to the concerned security staff,” the guideline said.
Due to security concerns, observers were directed to avoid contact with strangers. “Any suspicious movement of strangers should be intimated to the security personnel and invitations from strangers without reference should not be accepted,” it said.
The observers have been advised to keep their personal belongings, valuables, passport and other travel documents at a secure place, and to avoid visiting crowded places and religious congregations.
The observers were also advised to abide by the terms and conditions of the code of conduct given by the Election Commission of Pakistan in addition to the international code of conduct.
Some of the foreign observers had held meetings with senior police officers of Rawalpindi who assured them that they would be provided with utmost security during their visits to other cities.
(Daily Dawn)
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