Installation of CCTV at high sensitive polling stations approved

KARACHI, Jun 22 (APP):Sindh cabinet on Friday has decided to
install surveillance cameras at highly sensitive polling stations to
record polling proceedings.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of caretaker Sindh Chief
Minister Fazul-ur-Rehman here at 7thFloor of New Sindh Secretariat,
said a statement on Friday.
All the caretaker provincial ministers, chief secretary Major
(Retd.) Azam Suleman, IG Police Sindh Amjad Javed Saleemi and provincial secretaries concerned.
The CM Sindh said that the main task of the caretaker government
is to pave way for free, fair and transparent election by providing
all the basic facilities and maintain law and order. “We have to
maintain public order, pre-empt terrorist threats, implement code of
conduct, he said.
The chief minister said that the caretaker government has to ensure
pre-polls and polling day security measures and security of polling
staff and material.
Chief Secretary Major (Retd.) Azam Suleman briefing the cabinet
said that the Election Commission of Pakistan through divisional and
district administration has identified 4,154 high sensitive polling
stations in Sindh which include 1977 in Karachi, 1206 in Hyderabad,
176 in Mirpurkhas, 124 in Shaheed Benazir, 289 Sukkur and 382 in
Larkana.
He said that there would be around 17606 polling stations, of
them 4350 are most sensitive, 7999 sensitive and 5257 normal.
The cabinet discussed the security arrangements of all the
polling stations and decided to install surveillance cameras along
with the arrangement of generators at all the polling station.
The cabinet directed the finance department to release Rs600
million for installation of cameras and the generators.
inspector General of Police giving presentation to the cabinet
said that general law and order situation in the province is
satisfactory.
However, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies are
constantly conveying threats.
He added that the polarized environment due to general election
may also cause law and order situation, including clashes between
political groups.
On this the chief minister said that nobody would be allowed to
take law in his hands.
Lauding targeted Karachi operation, the IG said the terrorism was
on the peak in 2013 when 51 terrorism incident took place and now in
2018 it has come to zero.
Similarly, target killing which was also at its peak in 2013 when
509 incidents had taken has come down to only two cases in 2018.
Kidnapping for ransom was recoded at 109 in 2010 has come down to
eight in 2018.
He said that there was potential threat of terrorism during
election but all the law enforcement agencies and intelligence
agencies were working on close coordination to thwart all kind of
threats.
He said that eight policemen would be deployed at most sensitive
polling station, four at sensitive and two at normal polling station.
Under the security plan, the IG said 106,982 policemen, including
16000 reserves would be deployed at all the polling station. He added
that a force of 76,310 policemen would be deployed at polling stations
and 14,672 would be on patrolling.
Secretary Home Mohammad Haroon briefing the cabinet about salient
features of security protocol for political leaders said it includes
no hate speech, no hoisting of flags or banners on public
property/buildings/poles; no wall chalking on public property.
The political parties would have to obtain NOC for large public
gatherings and rallies, corner meetings and small gathering from the
concerned deputy commissioners and SSPs.
He added that route of public rallies of political parties would
be determined in consultation with concerned DCS and SSPs at least
three days earlier than the schedule.
It was pointed out that the security of the political parties and
candidates would be their own responsibility, however Sindh police
would be responsible for overall security of locality, area, venue and
persons/public gathering at large.
The political leaders may, however, deploy private security
guards in uniform and with licensed arms for their personal security
subject.
The organizers of political events have been urged to record the
proceedings of the event and provide recording to the local police.
The Home Secretary meeting was told that election law & Order
cell was being established in Home department for close coordination
among LEAs, IGP office and field offices to monitor the election.
Control Rooms at provincial, divisional and district levels would
be established three days ahead of elections to monitor the law and
order.
The Cabinet on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of Sindh
High Court approved the appointment of Advocate Mohammad Hanif as
Judge ATC Court-IV Karachi, Muzafar Hussain as judge ATC-XI Karachi
and Mohammad Khan Buriro as judge of ATC-X Karachi.
The cabinet on the recommendation of Chief Justiuce of High Court
of Sindh also appointed Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto as Incharge
Administrative Judge ATCs, Karachi Division for the portion of Summer
vacation from 2.7.2018 to 4.8.2018.
MD of Water Board Khalid Shaikh briefed the cabinet about
regularization of sub-soil water supply to industries in Karachi.
The regulations shall be in force for a period of three years and
extendable for further terms subject to availability of sub soil
water.
All licenses would be granted by MD of KWSB on prescribed form upon
written request of Presidents/Chairman of concerned Estate Associates
along with the NOC by the MD also approved the regularization policy
of sub-soil water supply to industries.
The MD said that the tube well and must be situated at the maximum
distance from KWSB lines.
The licensee shall pay in advance Rs90,000 per bore hole as one
time security deposit which would be forfeited in case of non-payment
of water charges.
A non-refundable license fee shall be charged from the permit
holder at the rate Rs 100,000 per bore hole before commencement of the
supply.
The cabinet also approved collection of Royalty under Sindh
Mining Concession Rules 2002.