QUETTA (APP) - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) chief Sikandar Sultan Raja on Wednesday stressed the importance of utilising all available resources to conduct a transparent and peaceful election in the country.
Chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Quetta, to assess the preparations for the upcoming general elections, the chief election commissioner (CEC) emphasised the importance of close collaboration between the caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
He cautioned that stringent measures would be taken against officials and staff members who demonstrate negligence in the election process. He also emphasised that ensuring free, fair and impartial elections was pivotal for enhancing democracy.
Raja stated that the ECP was fully committed to assisting the interim provincial government to the best of its abilities.
He also emphasised a strict stance against any instances of political bias among government employees, ensuring swift action would be taken upon the identification of such complaints.
The ECP is dedicated to offering any necessary support to the interim provincial government.
The chief election commissioner also stressed that any instances of political favouritism among government employees would be met with zero tolerance, and swift action would be taken if such complaints were identified.
During the meeting, the secretary of the Election Commission delivered a concise presentation on the preparations for the upcoming general elections. This included updates on the progress of the electoral roll and voter registration.
During the meeting, Sharifullah, the Provincial Election Commissioner of Balochistan, provided an overview of the preparations for the general elections, and discussed the future steps. He also noted that over 5.28 million registered voters were expected to exercise their voting rights in Balochistan.
He explained that the upcoming elections would encompass 16 National Assembly and 51 Provincial Assembly seats in Balochistan, with 5,067 polling stations to be established. Of these, 2,038 polling stations were designated as highly sensitive, while 2,068 were categorised as sensitive.
The chief election commissioner instructed the provincial election commissioner to promptly inspect all polling stations in the province. The chief secretary provided a comprehensive overview of election preparations and compliance with the Election Commission’s directives, pledging to execute all orders accordingly.
The chief secretary affirmed that the Balochistan government was fully committed to supporting the Election Commission in the successful conduct of the general elections. Furthermore, he noted that the provincial government was carrying out personnel transfers and postings in accordance with the directives of the Election Commission.
He additionally assured that polling stations would be adequately equipped with all necessary facilities. During the meeting, the Balochistan police chief mentioned that a security plan had been devised, and the Quick Response Force would maintain a high-level of vigilance to address any unexpected incidents, leaving no stone unturned to ensure a peaceful election.
During the event, the additional inspector general of police provided an extensive security briefing and mentioned the establishment of a centralised control room to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.