(File Photo)
The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued code of conduct related to the deployment of security personnel to ensure fool proof security during the upcoming general elections.
According to the code of conduct, security personnel will be deployed outside all polling stations for maintenance of law and order.
The security will be provided to printing presses during printing of ballot papers and its transportation from Printing Presses to the offices of the Returning Officers.
Security will also be provided to Presiding Officers during transportation of Polling Bags from the offices of Returning Officers to the Polling Stations.
The Election Commission said that security personnel will remain impartial and neutral throughout the election process in general and during the voting process in particular and shall not act in favor or against any political party.
The security personnel will ensure that peaceful, congenial, safe and conducive environment is provided to the voters outside the polling stations so that voters are neither intimidated nor prevented from voting in any manner whatsoever.
They will facilitate voters and ensure that voters are properly queued.
Moreover, security personnel will follow the directions of the Presiding Officer to perform their duties and will provide security to the premises of the office of the Returning Officer till the completion of consolidation of results and ensure safe deposit of polling bags and other material to the strong room of the Commission.
The security personnel will not be allowed to ask the voters to prove their identity as it is the duty of polling officer.
Similarly, they will also not disallow any eligible voter to enter into the polling station as entering a polling station to cast vote is an inviolable right of the voter.