Army personnel to be deployed at polling stations: ECP
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ISLAMABAD: Army personnel would be deployed both inside and outside polling stations to ensure security during general elections.
This was decided at a meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday with Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan in the chair, which reviewed security arrangements for elections.
It was also decided that foolproof security would be provided during printing of the ballot papers. For this purpose, army would be deployed at Security Printing Press from 27th of this month to 25th of next month.
Later, briefing newsmen Additional Director-General Media of Election Commission told newsmen that CCTV cameras would be installed at twenty thousand sensitive polling stations in the country.
He said close coordination would also be maintained with National Counter Terrorism Authority for security issues.
He said the meeting decided that foolproof security would also be provided to political leaders. He said it would be responsibility of the provinces to make necessary arrangements in this regard.
Similarly, provincial governments would also provide security to District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Presiding Officers.
He said the Commission expressed satisfaction over security arrangements so far devised for the general elections.
Meanwhile, Election Commission of Pakistan has expressed displeasure over requests of exemptions from election duty by various departments and individuals.
In a statement, the ECP said holding free, fair and transparent elections is a national duty which has to be fulfilled by every one of us. Therefore, no applications for exemptions should be sent to Election Commission of Pakistan.
ECP lifts ban on new recruitments
The Election Commission of Pakistan has lifted ban on new recruitments.
A notification issued by the commission today states that the caretaker governments may make acting or short term appointments in public interest.
It merits mentioning here that the commission in its earlier order on 11th April had imposed ban on all kinds of recruitments except the ones through the Federal or provincial public service commissions.
Candidates can submit letters of party affiliation to ROs concerned by 29th June
Election Commission of Pakistan has said that the candidates can submit letters of party affiliation to the Returning Officer concerned by 29th of this month.
According to ECP, the Returning Officers had already been issued instructions in this regard, but there have been reports that they are demanding letters of party affiliation from the candidates during scrutiny of their papers.
APP
