ISI, IB and CTD advised Election Commission not to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to fears of attacks.
An important meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the conduct of elections and security, in which officials of sensitive institutions also participated.
In the meeting, Sector Commander Islamabad, Sector Commander Punjab and Sector Commander Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from ISI, Joint Director Punjab and Joint Director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Intelligence Bureau (IB), DIG CTD Punjab and D. IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also participated. In the meeting, the security agencies gave a briefing on the security situation.
The Election Commission, while talking about security, asked for 353,000 additional personnel for the elections in both provinces.
Sources say that while giving a briefing to the officials, they were told that in addition to the police, 297,000 personnel from other law enforcement agencies will be required in Punjab, while 56,000 more personnel will be required in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting was informed that about 67 thousand polling stations will be established in both provinces, about 52 thousand polling stations will be established in Punjab and 15 thousand polling stations will be established in KP.
DROs will identify highly sensitive polling stations while highly sensitive polling stations will require CCTV cameras and security personnel from other institutions.
Sources say that the security agencies informed the Election Commission about the threats and the security agencies advised not to conduct the election at this time based on the current security threats. During the meeting, secret agencies unanimously opposed the holding of elections.
Sources say that the ISI, IB and CTD officials opined that the environment is not conducive for holding the elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. There are reports that the Election Commission will decide on this briefing next week.
ROs, DROs and AROs appointed for elections in Punjab
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed ROs, DROs and AROs for the elections in Punjab. The Election Commission has said that 36 DROs, 297 ROs and 594 AROs have been appointed for the elections in Punjab who have been recruited from the bureaucracy.
According to the Election Commission, ROs have also been appointed for the seats of women and minorities.
