Security arrangements have been further tightened: CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi has said that a comprehensive security plan is being implemented for ensuring free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in the province while effective security arrangements have been made at every polling station. He said that necessary arrangements have also been made for transportation of the ballot papers from polling stations back to the District Returning Officers.

He said that all necessary measures are being taken for further improving security arrangements throughout the province so that voters could exercise their right of franchise in a peaceful manner.

He was presiding over a high level meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector General Police Punjab, Additional IGs and concerned officers were present. The meeting reviewed law and order situation and security arrangements for general elections.

Addressing the meeting, Najam Sethi said that in view of the national and international situation, security arrangements have been further tightened in the province and caretaker government is strictly implementing the security plan evolved for meeting the challenge of conducting peaceful and transparent elections. He said that necessary measures have been taken across the province to ensure transparent and peaceful elections while control rooms at divisional and district level are fully functional.

He said that the ban on carrying mobile phones into polling stations will be strictly enforced and necessary instructions have been issued to the concerned authorities in this regard. He said that special security measures have been adopted at sensitive polling stations. He said that intelligence sharing system between different departments is being made more effective. He said that necessary arrangements have also been made for facilitating the representatives of national and international media in the coverage of elections at divisional and district levels.

Provincial Home Secretary and IG Police gave a briefing on law and order situation in the province and security arrangements.