District Returning Officer, Sialkot, Shoaib Ahmad Rumi has said that foolproof security arrangements were being made for holding of elections in a fair, free and congenial environment in Sialkot district.
Addressing a meeting of contestant candidates of different political parties held here on Tuesday, he said that supremacy of rule of law would be ensured during the election for ensuring transparency. To make sure the transparency in polling, the transparent ballot boxes would be used for balloting purposes that would help ensure transparency in the elections, he disclosed.
The district returning officer further told the meeting that carrying and display of all kind of lethal weapons and firearms would not be allowed during the election campaign and candidates would be bound to inform about their meeting schedule 24 hours before to the district administration. He stressed upon the candidates that they should refrain from criticism of private life of leaders or workers of political parties during the public meetings in the district.
The uppermost duty and instrumental role of the candidates is to motivate the voters that they should exercise their right of vote during the election for attaining better turnout in the election, he said. Shoaib Rumi also stressed upon the candidates that they should strictly observe the "Code of Conduct" as approved by the Election Commission of Pakistan in their respective constituency. A total 1,312 polling station would be set up in Sialkot district out of that 1,308 would be located in public buildings, he said.
On this occasion Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan of PPP contesting from NA-111 demanded the immediate withdrawal of protocol facilities of Speaker National Assembly who is also contesting in the same constituency for curtailing his influence in the area.
She also demanded the immediate suspension of Sialkot district government and alleged that district Nazim Sialkot is carrying the election campaign of his real elder brother and former Punjab minister for industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema contesting in PP-121. Dr Firdous on this occasion demanded that neutral polling staff and special security arrangements should be made in NA-111 and PP-121 for ensuring fairness in the election.
Most of the candidates belonging to PPP demanded the suspension of district government immediately for ensuring transparency and rigging free polling in the district.
The candidates of different political parties including Speaker National Assembly (PML-Q), Khawaja Muhammad Asif (PML-N), Mian Muhammad Riaz (PML-Q), Muhammad Ajmal Cheema (PML-Q) Zahid Bashir (PPP) Ansar Iqbal Baryar (PML-Q) and many others attended the meeting. District Coordination Officer Captain Atta Muhammad (Retd) and officers also attended the meeting.