ECP briefed on security situation in Punjab, KP

• ECP held a meeting on law and order situation in Punjab, KP
• Security agencies briefed on threats in both provinces
• CEC said the information will assist in conducing peaceful elections

ISLMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held a meeting on Friday to discuss the law and order situation in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of the upcoming elections.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired the meeting during which the chiefs of security agencies gave a detailed briefing regarding the latest law and order situation in both provinces.

According to ECP spokesperson, the meeting was attended by the members of the Election Commission, representatives of law enforcement agencies and sensitive institutions.

During the meeting, the participants were briefed in detail on the current security situation in the two provinces, with reference to free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections.

The briefing provided valuable insights that will assist the commission in making informed decisions regarding the conduct of the upcoming polls.

At the end of the meeting, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja thanked all the participants and conveyed his gratitude for the detailed briefing.

He expressed his confidence that the information provided will enable the commission to take necessary measures to ensure peaceful and transparent elections in the two provinces.

It must be mentioned that elections in Punjab are scheduled to be held on April 30 while the date for KP polls is yet to be finalized.

ECP seeks Rs15bn

In another crucial meeting a day earlier, the election commission urgently demanded a budget of Rs15 billion to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections in the two provinces.

During the meeting, the electoral watchdog said that a sum of Rs20 billion was required for the elections. Out of which only Rs5 billion has been provided to the commission so far, leaving a shortfall of Rs15 billion.

The commission has appealed to the government to provide the necessary funds as soon as possible so that preparations for the elections could continue without any further delays.

The finance secretary and home secretary were called into the meeting to ensure the provision of funds and security for the said elections.

The finance secretary was informed by the election commission that a whopping Rs 65 billion would be required to hold the upcoming general election across the entire country.

In the briefing to the election commission, the finance secretary highlighted the challenging economic situation in the country and expressed difficulties in providing the necessary funds for upcoming elections.

The briefing shed light on the current state of the economy, including issues such as inflation, rising debt, and declining revenue streams.

The election commission secretary said that additional personnel would be required in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces to ensure the safety and security of the polling process.

He informed that apart from the police in both provinces, 297,000 more personnel would be required in Punjab and 56,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The interior secretary was tasked with arranging for the necessary personnel from the Army, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies.

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