Sukkur: An important meeting was held in the under the joint chairmanship of provincial Election Commissioner Ijaz Ahmed Chauhan and Commissioner Sukkur division Abid Saleem Qureshi on Tuesday to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent conduct of the by-elections in Provincial Assembly constituency PS-30 Khairpur scheduled for August 16.
Addressing the meeting, Ijaz Ahmed Chauhan said that appointments of assistant returning officers, presiding officers and other concerned staff have been finalized, while the polling staff has also been given formal training regarding polling duties to ensure smooth completion of the electoral process.
He directed the concerned authorities to ensure complete implementation of the Election Commission’s Code of Conduct during the election campaign. He clarified that government employees should refrain from any political activity or unlawful interference in the electoral process and should perform their duties impartially in accordance with the law. The Provincial Election Commissioner also appealed to journalists to immediately report any untoward incident or violation of the code of conduct during the elections on the contact channels provided by the Election Commission, so that timely legal and administrative action can be ensured.
On the occasion, Commissioner Sukkur Division Abid Saleem Qureshi said that the main objective of the meeting is to ensure effective coordination and harmony among all concerned institutions for conducting the PS-30 by-elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The Commissioner directed the SEPCO administration not to allow any interruption in power supply on election day and to ensure uninterrupted electricity at all polling stations. He instructed the Local Government and other concerned authorities to arrange generators or solar systems at polling stations where electricity facility is not available. Keeping in view the intense heat, he also issued instructions to provide cold drinking water, tents and other essential facilities for voters and polling staff at polling stations.
The Commissioner Sukkur Division bound the Presiding Officers to submit polling results to the DRO office in a timely manner to ensure preparation of results and transparency of the electoral process.
Briefing the meeting, DRO Abdul Wahid Baloch said that detailed data regarding new voter lists and polling arrangements for PS-30 Khairpur has been compiled. According to the data, a total of 254, 980 voters are registered in the constituency, including 133, 037 male and 121, 943 female voters.
According to the DRO, a total of 164 polling stations have been established in the constituency, including 53 male, 52 female and 59 combined polling stations. In view of emergency situations, 16 improvised polling stations have also been set up. To provide better facilities to voters, a total of 592 polling booths have been established, of which 302 are reserved for men and 290 for women.
The DRO informed that in view of the security situation, 64 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive, 68 sensitive and 32 normal.
On the occasion, DIG Sukkur Nasir Aftab and SSP Khairpur Saud Magsi, while briefing the meeting, said that additional police personnel will be deployed at highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations, while Rangers will also conduct continuous patrolling in the area. They further informed that in view of the overall security situation, the Army has also been informed in writing and the concerned forces will be kept on alert to deal with any emergency situation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Provincial Election Commissioner and the Commissioner Sukkur Division directed all concerned institutions to ensure law and order, transparency, impartiality, power supply, basic facilities for voters and security arrangements during the electoral process at all costs, so that the PS-30 Khairpur by-elections can be held in a peaceful, transparent and conducive environment.
The meeting was attended by DIG Sukkur Nasir Aftab, Regional Election Commissioner Sukkur Adnan Bashir, District Returning Officer Abdul Wahid Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Khairpur Altaf Ahmed Chachar, SSP Khairpur Saud Ahmed Magsi, District Election Commissioner Khairpur Naeem-ur-Rehman Jalbani, along with Director Schools and Colleges, Assistant Commissioner Sobhodero, officers and representatives of Information Department, DHO Khairpur, PPHI, Education Department, Rescue, NADRA, SEPCO, Rangers and other relevant departments.
