Terrorism-marred KP to be provided with 125 FC platoons for Feb 8 polls

• 40 platoons to be provided to Islamabad, 10 to Karachi. 
• KP to also arrange required 34,000 additional personnel.
• KP Police recently upgraded security for political leaders.

PESHAWAR: About 175 Frontier Constabulary (FC) platoons will be provided to assist the police in ensuring security for the upcoming general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Karachi, The News reported Tuesday. 

“We will provide 125 platoons to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40 to Islamabad and 10 platoons to Karachi police for security during the general elections,” FC Commandant Moazzam Jah Ansari said. 

Moreover, the police in KP will also arrange the required 34,000 additional personnel for security during the February 8 polls in the province — which has been severely marred by terror-related incidents. 

“We need around 34,000 additional cops for adequate security arrangements during the general polls. Apart from seeking services of a good number of platoons from FC, the government and the force will engage manpower from many other departments to arrange for the additional security personnel,” a senior official of KP Police told The News.

The KP Police recently upgraded security for the political leaders who had received threat alerts in the past days. Police officials said they had taken adequate measures for the security of all the important political leaders and their gatherings.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) the other day approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other relevant forums to ensure upgraded security for the party leadership during the election campaign. The KP Police was directed to ensure upgraded security for the political leaders and their gatherings.

The development came after two alleged bombers were held by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and were said to be planning attacks on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and provincial president of the Awami National Party (ANP) Aimal Wali Khan.

For the last couple of years, the law and order situation has worsened in several parts of KP, especially southern districts, with an increase in attacks on police, security forces and civilians.

Some political figures and gatherings were attacked as well by the terrorists in a few parts of the province. 

Senior police officials said the situation had improved in other parts of the province while efforts were being made to improve law and order in the southern districts.