GILGIT – MERAJ ALAM – The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government has failed to close doors on members of banned organization planning to contest upcoming elections.
According to sources, all members of banned organizations were able to file their nominations papers for general elections of legislative assembly, as the ban imposed earlier wasn’t effective.
Official in Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) office has said that provincial government cannot impose the ban on any political organization; it is the jurisdiction of federal government. However political parties wishing to contest election are required to follow the code-of-conduct issued by CEC.
A member of a political party said, “The simple thing required to qualify for this election was to change the name of their organizations.
” Likewise those members (of banned organizations) have been seen holding rallies and carrying out election campaigns under the umbrella of their mother organizations.
As the elections are approaching fast, the political campaigning has gained the momentum in the region where a dozen of mainstream and regional parties are contesting for the 24 member legislative assembly.
As per details, 141 candidates including one woman filed the nomination papers for six GB-LA seats for Gilgit, 75 candidates including two women for six seats of Skardu, 22 candidates for two seats of Astore, 52 candidates for four seats of Diamer, 55 candidates for three seats and 22 candidates filed nomination papers for three seats of Ghanche.
Most of the candidates taking part in elections are aspiring to get tickets of various political parties including Pakistan People Party (PPP), PML-N, PTI, MWM, PMLQ, MQM, PAT, AAP, and nationalists. Several others are contesting independently.
POLICE CHALK OUT SECURITY PLAN FOR UPCOMING G-B POLLS
Gilgit-Baltistan police on Wednesday issued security plan to maintain law and order situation in the region during upcoming elections of Gigit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.
Speaking at a high-level meeting in the Central Police Office Gilgit, Inspector General of Police Gilgit-Baltistan Capt (Retd) Zafar Iqbal Awan said that GB police would make all-out efforts for the peaceful conduct of Election 2015 in the region.
He said that an election cell had been established at the Central Police Office with the task of monitoring election related activities besides setting up a control room which would be connected with other control rooms in all districts.
He further said that steps would be taken for effective and timely receiving and disseminating of information by using wireless, land lines, mobile phones, walki talki sets and internet.
He said that no one would be allowed to enter any polling station without written permission of the election commission except the relevant voters.
The police chief directed the concerned superintendents of police in all districts to take effective measures for making foolproof security plans in their respective jurisdictions in order to carry out elections in a peaceful way.
He directed them to take effective steps by installing CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations, cancelling leaves of cops in order to overcome deficiency of security personnel.
He warned the police force that stringent action would be taken against all those personnel who are found to be a part of any political, religious or ethnic procession or group.
He said that a flag march with other LEAs of region before polling day would be carried out to boost confidence of the general public on the security apparatus.
The meeting was attended by all DIGs, district SSPs and AIGs of Central Police Office Gilgit.http://nation.com.pk/national/14-May-2015/banned-outfits-given-free-hand-in-gb-polls
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