Elections 2024: Prior to the elections on February 8, CEC emphasizes security for all party figures

CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja gives pertinent officials and authorities strong instructions to adhere to the election code of conduct.

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: As the nation prepares for the highly anticipated general elections, which are set to take place on February 8, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued an order in a meeting held at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) guaranteeing the safety of leaders and voters of all political parties.

The chief of the electoral body also instructed relevant authorities and officials to strictly adhere to the election code of conduct during the meeting to review the law and order and security situation. The chief emphasized that it was the duty of the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure timely administrative and security arrangements for the successful, safe, and peaceful conduct of polls.

Inspectors general of police (IGPs), chief commissioner Islamabad, and chief secretaries from each of the four provinces told the gathering that all the necessary preparations had been made for handling any eventuality as well as for conducting elections.

The CEC emphasized that safety and security were essential to offer political parties, candidates, and voters with a safe atmosphere in which they could exercise their right to vote.

The gathering was informed that although certain regions of the nation were under threat alert, every effort would be made to ensure peaceful elections, and that all sensitive voting places will have closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed. In addition, prompt funding delivery to all relevant departments was guaranteed.

In order to help preserve a calm environment at the polling places, peace committees are also being established at the polling station level, according to the chief secretary (CS) of Balochistan. To prevent the elections from being postponed, the Punjab CS stated that explicit policy directives about modifications to the distribution of electoral symbols have to be released. The CEC responded by stating that ballots were still being printed. It will therefore be challenging to organize elections in such constituencies if changes are made to the election symbols at this time.

The meeting was briefed by the interior secretary that federal control rooms had been established to oversee the elections. He said that the interior ministry was in contact with all organizations and that preparations were being made to support the ECP and ensure that elections were held peacefully.

Every IGP was guaranteed that in cases where there was a lack of police, other security agencies would be called in. The meeting made it clear that any poll worker or institution’s disregard for the orderly conduct of elections would not be allowed.

CEC Sikandar Sultan warned that harsh measures would be imposed against candidates and other violators of the law and code of conduct. “Elections will be closely watched, and polls will take place on time,” he continued. The meeting was informed that polling places damaged by flooding were undergoing extensive repairs, which would be finished in time for the elections.

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The chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) told the gathering that on election day, public access to polling places in the regions affected by snowfall would be guaranteed, and all highways would remain open. The CEC thanked all of the participants and conveyed its pleasure with all of the plans and precautions put in place to ensure a smooth election process. He stated that the Election Commission would rigorously carry out its duty under Article (3)218 of the Constitution, which requires it to conduct peaceful and transparent elections.

Meanwhile, the appeals of Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Parvez Elahi, and other petitioners against the rejection of their nomination papers were dismissed by a three-member Lahore High Court (LHC) bench led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, who announced the reserved verdict on over sixty petitions. Along with rejecting a petition by the PTI founder’s attorney, the bench maintained the rulings of the appeal tribunal and returning officer (RO) that had rejected the candidate’s nomination papers and review petitions for NA-89 Mianwali and NA-122 Lahore. Imran is now ineligible to run in the 2024 elections due to the verdict of the LHC.

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Dr. Usman Anwar, Punjab’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), has stated that 19 of the province’s parliamentarians are under threat from security concerns. Speaking with the media during the ECP meeting in Islamabad, he explained that security reasons prevented him from revealing the politicians’ identities. He stated that there was a 92,000 shortfall of security guards at polling places in Punjab. This time, there would be more than 50,000 polling places. Compared to 60,000 during the previous elections, he stated that 120,000 people had been sent to Punjab for electoral duty. The Punjabi atmosphere was favorable for conducting elections, the IGP emphasized.