Hyderabad DCs told to formulate plan for general elections

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Commissioner Syed Khalid Hyder Shah chaired a meeting at his office on Monday to discuss the arrangements for the holding of the 2024 general elections.

Shah directed all the deputy commissioners of the division to make an effective plan regarding the provision of missing facilities at polling stations and the staff required, and details of sensitive polling stations.

The commissioner pointed out that new furniture has been provided to all educational institutions over the past two years, so now there should not be a shortage of furniture at the polling stations being set up there.

He underlined the need to provide missing facilities at polling stations without delay. He also ordered the DCs to identify sensitive polling stations in their respective districts so that CCTV cameras can be installed there.

Education Works Chief Engineer Ahmed Ali Shah told the meeting that 4,654 polling stations in the division are being visited to ensure the provision of the required facilities, and that thisprocess would be completed this month.

Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razaq Dharejo told the meeting that to ensure the holding of elections peacefully, police and Rangers would be deployed, while the services of the Pakistan Army would also be sought, if needed.

DIG Dharejo said the police have been tasked with the responsibility to ensure the security of every person intending to exercise their right to vote without any fear, while all the polling stations would be monitored through geo-tracking.

The officer said that a control room would be set up at his office and more would be set up at the offices of all the SSPs of the division so that people’s complaints regarding any problems on Election Day can be registered and steps can be taken for their timely redressal.

The DCs of the division gave detailed briefings about the polling stations, including sensitive polling stations, the staff and the facilities required at the polling stations in their respective districts.

Regional Election Commissioner Hyderabad Azhar Hussain Tanweri, Hyderabad DC Tariq Qureshi, Hyderabad SSP Amjad Shaikh, Matiari DC Lal Dino Mangi and all the officers of the departments concerned attended the meeting, while other DCs and SSPs of the division participated through videoconferencing.