In order to ensure peaceful atmosphere during the upcoming general elections 2018, the Punjab police have decided to depute over 206,000 police officers including police volunteers inside and outside polling stations across the province, it was learnt on Saturday.
Officials said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Punjab Home Department had forwarded a summary of the polling stations and required number of police officers to the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP). After approving the summary, the IGP directed all Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) to personally monitor security affairs of all the polling stations, they added.
According to the operation branch of the Punjab police, more than 130,000 cops will perform their duties during the elections while around 8500 volunteers and over 125,000 cops from the special branch will also be deployed for security purposes. Nearly 48,000 polling stations have been identified for their deployment, they added.
A contingent of Pakistan Rangers will also be deputed with the cops at 'very sensitive' polling stations and their boundary walls will also be cordoned off with barbed wires to ensure foolproof security of voters, the officials said. Meanwhile, the Punjab government also gave an approval for extension in deployment of the Rangers in the province for 60 days. The summary of the extension would be sent to the ministry of interior for final nod. It may be noted that under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, the Rangers were deployed in Punjab to carry out joint intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in specified areas.