Centre devises security plan for elections

ISLAMABAD—Approving the security Plan to maintain law and order during next General elections due in January, Federal Government has directed Provincial Governments to deal with anti state elements with Iron hands.
The ban to hold rallies, public gatherings and carry weapons will remain in force during the elections campaign and strict action will be taken against violators. The decisions into this affect was taken during the Inter Provincial Conference held here in Interior ministry on Saturday, Presided over by Caretaker Interior Minister Lieutenant Gen (Retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan.
Home Secretaries of four Provinces, Provincial Police Heads, Heads of law enforcement agencies and high level officers of election commission of Pakistan attended the conference. During the conference, the Provinces were directed to ensure implementation on security code of conduct devised by Federal Government.
Addressing the conference, the caretaker interior minister categorically stated that it is a responsibility of Provincial Governments to maintain law and order while Federal Government will lend assistance in this respect. No one will be allowed to violate security code of conduct devised by Federal Government and code of conduct chalked out by Election Commission of Pakistan, he said, adding that, the ban to hold rallies and public gathering will remain in force during the elections campaign. The parties and candidates will be allowed to hold Public gatherings and rallies with approval of District Government and Provincial Government but at specific point not anywhere, the caretaker minister pointed out. It was decided in the conference that only Police and law enforcement agencies will cover the security responsibilities of Public gathering or rally and no Party can depute its own Private security incharge.
The leader of any Party will be bound to finalize all the arrangements with Police, district administration before holding rally or Public gathering. It was also decided in the moot that the Federal Government would provide state of the art equipments to Provinces to keep vigilance eyes on terrorists. The interior ministry has directed Provinces to make effective Criminal Investigation Commands (CIDs). The CIDs will play its due role for peace during the elections through better coordination among them. On the occasion, the Provinces tabled their security Plan for elections, which was approved by Federal Government.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro has said that caretaker government would function within its mandate and facilitate the Election Commission to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country. The caretaker governments at the Federal and Provincial level also need to focus on sustainability in the economic upsurge and maintenance of law and order before and during the elections, he said this while talking to Awais Ahmed Ghani Governor Balochistan who called on him here at the Prime Minister Secretariat on Saturday.
The Prime Minister said that the mandate of the caretaker setup is to ensure peaceful environment before and during the elections and facilitate the voters to cast their votes in a conducive atmosphere. He said the caretaker government would remain neutral towards all political parties and expect that all stakeholders would reciprocate positively and fully participate in the election process.
The Prime said that the politics of agitation and conflict must be shunned, as it is not in the interest of nation and democracy. He said that the oath taken by the President Pervez Musharraf as a civilian President would augur well for the country and would further strengthen the democratic institutions. He said that the government would not allow any one to jeopardize the transition process towards the democratic rule. The Prime Minister asked the Governor Balochistan Mr. Awais Ahmed Ghani to ensure timely completion of the ongoing development projects in the Province.—Online