Deployment at polling stations: government assures Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of providing 3,000 more FC personnel

The Federal government has assured to provide additional 3,000 personnel of Frontier Constabulary for deployment at various sensitive polling stations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "The government has so far returned 50 FC platoons to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which deployed in various parts of the country.
For the election, an additional 3,000 FC personnel will be provided by federal government to assign duties at most sensitive districts in the province, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs, Fayaz Khan Toru while addressing a news conference here on Tuesday. Giving the actual number of polling stations, he said a total of 9,031 polling stations would be established out of which around 5,368 have so far declared sensitive and remaining polling 3,663 normal.
Of the total polling station, he said about 59 percent declared sensitive and rest of 41 percent normal. He further said that about 40 polling stations declared sensitive in North and South areas of district Chitral, connecting bordering region. While, he said, the polling stations in militants infested along with Awami National Party constituency were also highly at risk.
The Provincial Minister further informed that about 66.6 percent attacks were carried on Awami National Party candidates, activists and workers, while only 17 percent militants target to Pakistan People's Party and 17 percent to independent candidates. As few days left before holding of general elections, he said the KP government has finalised a security contingency plan for conducing a peacefully electoral process. "The plan has been devised with consultation of relevant stakeholders for tackling the current perplex security situation," Toru said. He, however, said that it was important to play all relevant stakeholders their proactive role for holding free, fair, transparent and peaceful polls under the given circumstances.
"Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, having it roots in several years back. The government has adopted proactive approaches to create peaceful and environment conducive to hold election, he added. Accompanied by Provincial Minister for Information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Minister for Information, Musarrat Qadeem and other officials, the Provincial Minister expressed pessimistic about security situation due looming threats by the militant groups, and planning to sabotage the election process. The recent attacks on secular political parties, particularly Awami National Party and independent candidates are a walk call for us, he added.
Under the contingency plan, he informed the department had issued clear directives to all police stations to carry out a limited operation on daily basis against the anti-social elements. He further said that a number of criminals had arrested in two different categories, while more than 1,000 rifles, 800 pistols, and 500 proclaimed offenders. "Effective mechanism of intelligence sharing is key to elimination of subversive activities elsewhere in the region, the minister stressed. He said it was well-organised nexus of militants, radical Talibans and anti-social elements, which can only be eliminated by co-operation at all level.
Keeping in views the entire scenario before the general election, he said the police along with Quick Response Force, workers of civil defence, forest guards would be actively performed duties to foil subversive activities of anti-state elements. We have been provided both overt and covert security, but mainly emphasis on covert security, he informed. He said: "All the division and districts have issued directives to accelerate efforts for security ahead of the general elections. When asked about any postponement of election, he categorically said that the election will be held on scheduled time May 11.
Regarding the constant attacks of candidates of ANP and other political parties, he said the government had provided amply security to all candidates as per directives of Election Commission of Pakistan. He said that they would take further steps to secure the political parties offices, candidates and electioneering rallies.