Presiding officers given magisterial powers

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdu1 Hameed Dogar on Thursday bestowed magisterial powers on all presiding officers for conducting fair, free, and impartial first and second-phase of local government elections across the country.
He was presiding over a high-level meeting to review the arrangements made for smooth holding of local government elections in Punjab here at the Committee Room of Civil Secretariat.
He directed that the Punjab government to extend all possible support and co-operation to all district returning officers (DROs) and the election staff for conducting elections in transparent and peaceful manners.
Conceding the request of DROs, Dogar directed the Punjab chief secretary that in future all election-related meeting must be held at the chambers of DROs concerned and not at any other place.
He directed that contingents of Pakistan Army should conduct 'flag march' in all the districts on polling day as well instead of to be stationed at one place.
He said tehsil headquarters of such sensitive districts must also be covered properly with the deployment of Pakistan Army troops.
He directed that Police must make all necessary arrangements for safe dispatch of election results from polling stations to returning officers.
Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Rasul speaking on the occasion assured that all sorts of assistance will he provided to election staff throughout the province for discharge of their official duties.
Punjab Home Secretary Hassan Wasim Afzal informed the meeting that special plan has been chalked out after thorough consultation with IG Police Ziaul Hassan to maintain law and order situation and police will be deployed at all polling stations.
He said Pakistan Army on the request of DCOs and DPOs concerned has been requisitioned for Lahore, Ralwalpindi, Gujranawala, Sargodha, Multan and Faisalabad districts while on the request of the IGP another four districts Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Jhang have also been included where contingents of Pakistan Army will parade and conduct patrolling in all sensitive areas.
The IGP informed that nearly 70,000 police force assisted by Qaumi Razakar and Forest Guards will be deployed at all polling stations, including in sensitive areas throughout the province.
He said wireless-sets will be provided to all DROs for monitoring elections process and for better co-ordination with assistant returning officers and presiding officers.
He said special control room, exclusively for election purpose, have been established one each at district level for monitoring law and order. He assured that no one will be allowed to create law and order situation any wherein the province and unscrupulous elements will be dealt with iron hands.
Punjab Election Commissioner Rahim Nawaz Khan Durrani informed that necessary elections material, including ballot papers have already been dispatched to all DROs.