Security beefed up for LB polls in 14 districts of Sindh

HYDERABAD: Security arrangements have been made for the second phase of the local bodies elections in Sindh’s 14 districts where police and Pakistan Rangers personnel are being deployed to avert any untoward situation.
The local bodies elections (second phase) are being held on Thursday (November 19).The election campaign has already witnessed clashes between rival political parties in which three people were reportedly killed, including a candidate. There is tension as rival political groups are exchanging hot words during the campaign.
Due to fears of a possible law and order situation in different districts, some selective polling stations have been declared sensitive.A statement issued from the SSP’s office on Tuesday said that in the Hyderabad district, 155 polling stations out of a total of 646 polling stations had been declared sensitive.
To deal with the situation, the administration has divided the district into four zones, each under a Superintendent of Police (SP) with 5,000 police personnel, an emergency reserve force and other security agencies. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the entire district where police personnel from the Quick Response Force have also been put on alert.
The SSP’s office has issued some helpline numbers and appealed to the people to cooperate with the police and inform them if any untoward situation develops around them. The elections will cover all the union councils, city wards, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, three municipal committees and district council with a number of councilors. There are 786,859 registered voters who will exercise their right to franchise at 2,091 polling stations in the entire district.