For free and fair holding of upcoming general elections, the Election Commission Rawalpindi (ECR) decided to install CCTV cameras at all 2,150 polling stations to control counterfeit votes besides monitoring overall security of the stations. Due to shortage of funds, ECR is mulling over hiring CCTV cameras for the period of two to three days.
However, the decision would be finalised in the meeting of divisional election security co-ordination committee. The feasibility report for installation of CCTV cameras at polling stations is being prepared which would be sent to Punjab Home Department for approval.
A senior official of CDGR said that the District Returning Officer Syed Maroof Ali asked the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) to make arrangements for the installation of CCTV cameras at the polling stations. He said that four CCTV cameras at each sensitive polling station would be installed to ensure free and fair elections. "Out of 2,110 polling stations in the district, 59 in Rawalpindi city, 15 in Gujjar Khan, 10 in Wah Cantonment and three each in Kahuta, Kalar Syedian and Murree have been declared sensitive, as sectarian violence or clash between political workers is expected there," an official of CDGR said.
It may be noted here that divisional election security committee has been formed on the directives of ECP, comprising RPO, CPO Rawalpindi, DPO Attock, DPO Chakwal, DPO Jhelum and district election commissioner. The committee will ensure law-and-order situation till holding of elections and direct concerned authorities for making necessary security arrangements.