Security arrangements reviewed in light of upcoming election

ISLAMABAD: A meeting was held at National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Headquarters in Islamabad on Tuesday to review and  coordinate security efforts for the July 25 general election.

Caretaker interior minister Azam Khan, National Coordinator NACTA Dr Suleman Khan, senior officers of all provincial home departments, senior police officers, officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and various law enforcement agencies attended the conference.

During the conference, the caretaker interior minister emphasised the need for unbiased treatment of miscreants ahead of the polls.

"Action should be taken regardless of any party or pressure group affiliation," Khan urged.

The caretaker interior minister said he was hopeful that vital installations, high-risk infrastructure and terrorism-prone areas of the country would not be compromised during deployment of police personnel and other law enforcement forces for election duty.

Further, National Coordinator NACTA Dr Suleman Khan on the occasion said that electioneering is a long process and involves the masses.

The NACTA coordinator said, "Despite security and intelligence-based operations against terrorists, security threats continue to exist during election campaigns."

Dr Suleman also discussed the threat alerts issued to relevant authorities about possible terrorist incidents during the upcoming polls, targetting of some political party leaders and suggestions to prevent terrorist attacks.

"As the head of NACTA, an organisation established to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts, I would say we have received some very serious reports," Dr Suleman said.

"NACTA has issued 12 threat alerts based on source reports concerning election campaigns, some general and others specific," he added.

Moreover, officers of the ECP gave a briefing to the attendees on security and safety measures. 

The home departments of all provinces also shared the preventive measures being undertaken for the election and senior officers of police and other law enforcement agencies apprised the meeting on various security measures.