Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Minister for Information and Women Development, Musarrat Qadeem on Tuesday ruled out any delay in holding of general elections, saying that the government was making all efforts to conduct fair and transparent the democratic process.
Speaking at a Peshawar Press Club Guest Hour's Programme, the provincial minister informed that more than 6,400 polling stations have been declared more sensitive, out of the total number of 9,600 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She said the government had worked out a comprehensive security plan, under which more than 65,000 police personnel backed by workers of civil, defence and forest guards would be deployed at different polling stations in the province. A well-co-ordinated system would be developed between police, law enforcement agencies and other relevant government line departments, to create a favourable environment for holding general elections in peaceful manner, Ms Qadeem added.
Flanked by provincial information secretary Azmat Haneef Orakzai, and Director Shoaibuddin, she said the government's foremost responsibility to hold election in a fair and transparent way. She said the steps are being taken to fully implement basic code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan for the general elections.
The minister said that a conspiracy being hatched to delay the election by various tactics, but the government would foil all such attempts, aimed at to undermine the electioneering process. She further added that security wasn't too much bad as predicated earlier for the holding elections.
She, however, said that the security forces would be remained standby to take control at sensitive locations to maintain law and order during the elections.
Referring a search study, the she informed that the women voters turnout were remained zero in more than 564 polling stations in past election in the country, in which around 55 percent women had deprived to use their right to vote, she added.
She urged the media to play its role for creation of awareness about the significance of women vote, which could only make possible maximum participation of women in the forthcoming general elections.
"We would take appropriate steps to make ensure a great turnout of women voters at the polling stations, she vowed. She stressed that it was mandatory to women fully participate in elections. If they (Women) were again ignored in the democratic process, which could be quit unjust with them, she remarked.
Regarding the re-shuffling of bureaucracy in KP, she said that government had made necessary re-shuffling to hold fair and transparent elections. She added they would take further measures for keeping fairness in the electoral process.
About a security arrangement for candidates contesting the elections, she said the government wasn't withdrawn from this responsibility. "We will provide adequate security under the defined parameter, she added. Ms Qadeem urged the media to abstain from highlighting negative issues while keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation.