ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister former Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk on Monday said that the federal and provincial governments are committed to providing every possible support to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding free and fair upcoming election in the country. The Prime Minister stated this while chairing a briefing on the preparations and arrangements being made for smooth conduct of the general election 2018. The Prime Minster held detailed discussion with provincial chief ministers on providing support to the ECP. Hours long meeting reportedly discussed the issue of security as well in the meeting.

The ECP has already ordered provincial governments to provide security to all candidates contesting the upcoming general elections as well as political leaders in view of security threats.

The ECP has directed the respective chief secretaries of provincial governments to ensure security arrangements for the election candidates and leaders of political parties, sources privy to the matter said. The ECP has also asked the relevant authorities to install CCTV cameras in sensitive polling stations for monitoring.

Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob gave a detailed presentation on the arrangements being made for conducting the general election 2018.

Yaqoob informed the meeting about the details of the code of conduct prepared by the ECP for contesting candidates, presiding officers and the polling staff, the law enforcement agencies deployed for election duties, media and election observers, both local and foreign, who would be monitoring the election countrywide. The ECP said to have also informed the meeting that it would ensure enforcement of the code of conduct.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the preparations made by the Election Commission of Pakistan. He said that ensuring the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections is the prime responsibility of the ECP.

Those who attended the meeting included Minister for Interior Muhammad Azam Khan, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Hasan Askari Rizvi, Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Fazal-ur-Rehman, Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa former Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Alauddin Mari, Secretary to Prime Minister Suhail Aamir, Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, secretaries finance, interior and defence divisions, chief secretaries and inspector generals (IGs) of four provinces, high-ups of ICT administration and other senior government officials.