Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday directed police and law enforcement agencies to prepare comprehensive security plans for period before, during and after upcoming general elections, ensuring safety of political leaders and common people in the country.
Addressing Provincial Home Secretaries, Police IGs, senior officials of Interior Ministry and law enforcement agencies, he said security plans should not restrict political activities undertaken within ambit of law. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao also attended.
He directed security plans of all major political events be worked out in consultation with relevant political parties and briefed on all possible aspects of eventualities. Once it is agreed, it must be strictly enforced. Aziz asked Interior Ministry to finalise draft of proposed code of conduct and SOPs for upcoming political events.
The security arrangements on day of elections are discussed with all political parties participating in polls and Chief Election Commissioner. After concurrence of Election Commission necessary amendments in laws be made to extend legal cover to Code of Conduct and SOPs.
He said government is fully prepared to meet all challenges and continue will to make best efforts to protect lives of people. While dealing with different security situations, coming challenges have to be tackled professionally.
He specially directed provincial police to establish special public relations cells to keep liaison with media. These will functional round the clock during any major event.
Prime Minister said government fully appreciates performance of officers of police and law enforcing agencies in discharging their responsibility of minimising chances of untoward incidents. "We will continue to support and provide all necessary resources to police and other law enforcement agencies in discharging their duties."
He said Karachi incident in which innocent people lost lives, was great tragedy and asked law enforcement agencies to prevent such untoward incidents and co-ordinate closely with all security and intelligence agencies.
He was told culprits responsible for all previous suicide acts in Karachi have been apprehended showing 100 percent success rate and hoped culprits for recent Karachi blast would soon be brought to justice.
Officials spoke of security challenges in handling large crowds and political processions. Despite difficulties law enforcement agencies prepared security plans due to which leaders were not hurt in Karachi incident while a large number of police officials lost their lives.
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