ISLAMABAD, May 29 (TNS): Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior on Monday has taken an in-depth stock about the security and administrative measure for the upcoming general elections.
The meeting held under the Chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House was attended among others by Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan, Senator Kalsoom Perveen, Senator Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Senators Mian Ateeq Sheikh, Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati and Senator Azam Khan Musakhel as members of the committee and Former Deputy Chairman Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri attended the meeting as a special invitee. Secretary Interior, Chairman NADRA, Director General NADRA, Inspector General Police Islamabad, DIG Security Islamabad, Additional Inspector General Police Punjab, DPO Narowal, DIG KP Police, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and other officials.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior was given a detailed briefing by Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob on security arrangements on Election Day, July 25. The Committee was told about installation of CCTV cameras in polling stations, deputing policemen and armed forces personnel, motivation campaigns on urging voters to vote among other matters. Before the Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Mr. Baber Yaqoob to brief the meeting, Chairman Senator A Rehman Malik said that free, fair and secure elections is the hope and dream of every Pakistani and ensuring security on the polling day and polling stations is our foremost responsibility as some anti-Pakistan elements can target politicians and our people to sabotage the process. Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Mr. Yaqoob Baber briefed the meeting about the measures devised to be implemented and taken on the polling day and said that the ECP has a perfect guideline in shape of Election Commission Act which will be implemented in its true letter and spirits. The Committee raised questions regarding availability, functioning and installation of CCTVs in 20,000 polling stations as proposed by ECP. Committee also decided to seek responses from Chief Secretaries of Provinces on progress on the matter and Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik issued directions in this regard. Members of the Committee suggested giving proper eating and transport facility to policemen and other staff who will be on duty on Election Day. The meeting was told that there are 85,000 polling stations and if 4-5 policemen are required per station the number amounts to at least 300,000 policemen required on Election Day. It was told that no final decision has been taken yet about deployment of armed forces personnel. The matter of safety of ballot papers and polling staff was also discussed.
Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik asked about the criteria to identify the security risks to which Secretary ECP answered that based on intelligence information some polling stations are marked as sensitive. He said that transportation of the ballot papers is made highly secured as the pictures before dispatching the ballot papers shall be sent online to the Election Commission which later on to be verified in case any complaint regarding ballot box. Secretary Election Commission informed the committee that he thinks that elections could be sabotaged by some external elements for which we are taking necessary measures to ensure the free and fair elections on time.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he will be writing letters to all political parties to attend the meeting of ECP on elections awareness and two members of the committee will also be attending the said meeting for the input of this committee. He said that if ECP feels the need of helicopter on Election Day to monitor polling in far-plunged areas, this committee will request the concerned authorities for the provision of helicopters saying that this committee will be fully assisting the election commission during whole process of elections. He announced that the committee will be visiting each provincial headquarter of the ECP after June 15th, 2018. Senator Javed Abbasi expressed serious reservations over the nomination of a controversial caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa saying that there is news of bribery that the nominated caretaker CM had paid a heavy amount. He requested the ECP to take serious notice of allegations about nomination of caretaker Chief Minister of KP and interfere in the matter. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik while expressing great concerns over the news asked the ECP to initiate an inquiry into the matter as it is matter of great concerns and worrisome. Senator Azam Khan Swati informed the committee that after bringing into the notice of PTI Chief Imran Khan the nomination of controversial caretaker chief minister was withdrawn.
Committee was informed that the nominated caretaker chief minister is brother of a senator of PTI so the chances of rigging shall be increased if he is announced as caretaker Chief Minister. Election Commission of Pakistan will hold an inquiry into the matter and will inform the committee soon. Chairman SSC on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik said that for free, fair and secure election, the caretaker setup should be highly competent and neutral and should be nominated with consensus of all political parties rather based on bribery and nepotism. Senator A. Rehman Malik asked all private tv channels to dedicate at least half an hour in 24 hours for the awareness of elections in collaboration with election commission. Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Mr. Baber Yaqoob thanked Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik for providing him a chance to brief the honorable senators about the measures the commission has taken for elections-2018. He was also appreciated by member senators for this exemplary initiative of calling Secretary ECP to brief Parliamentarians saying it was for the first time in parliamentary history of the country.
Regarding the attack on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the Additional IGP Punjab told the Committee that the investigation is underway and results will be shared with the Committee soon those are final. He said some five suspects were arrested who belong to a religious-political party however he can give the in-camera briefing in this regard and will not be able to name that particular party.. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that negligence at the part of those security officials who were deputed on Minister’ security should be identified and addressed as it is matter of great concerns that Minister of Interior of the country is not safe and secure; what about the rest of common citizens of the country. While taking serious notice of the leaking of video statement of the attacker, Senator A. Rehman Malik directed the additional IGP Punjab to immediately suspend those officers who were investigating the alleged attacker but recorded the video and was made public and viral within 15 minutes putting the life of Minister further in danger. He said those who are responsible for the recording and spreading of the said video should be identified within next 48 hours and should be dealt under the law and to be suspended immediately. The Committee expressed concerns on the threat assessment list shared with the Committee by Secretary Interior and called for its review. Committee expressed dissatisfaction over the threat assessment list saying that many politicians who are even not under threat are given extraordinary security while those who are genuinely under serious security threats are deprived of security. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior formed a committee headed by Senator Javed Abbasi with its members Senator Attiq Sheikh and Azam Khan Muakhel to review the assessment list and put those names in the list that were either earlier targeted or who are under threat. Members of the committee expressed great concerns over the withdrawal of security from Senator Ghafor Haidri who had earlier escaped serious suicide attacks and asked the secretary interior to immediately depute security for his protection.
Senator A. Rehman Malik during the meeting strongly condemned recent wave of terrorist attacks on Pakistan Army, personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and police in Balochistan wherein few days ago Pak-Army Colonel Sohail Abid embraced martyrdom and yesterday in attack two officers of police embraced martyrdom.
“Committee strongly condemns terrorist attacks on Pakistan Army, LEAs and Police in Balochistan, expresses great grief over the loss of precious lives and expresses heartfelt condolences with bereaved families and pays rich tribute to the martyrs for their unmatched sacrifices for our beloved country- Pakistan”, said Senator A. Rehman Malik.
