Larkana, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar has directed comprehensive preparations for the upcoming February 8th elections, emphasizing the enforcement of a strict code of conduct and the deployment of substantial security forces to ensure a peaceful polling process. The directives were issued during a meeting at the Commissioner’s Office, focusing on providing necessary facilities for free, fair, and transparent elections across the Larkana division.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the meeting detailed the electoral arrangements, including a significant security deployment plan involving 16,704 policemen, 2,552 army personnel, and 133 members of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to guard 2,738 polling stations. The Larkana division, encompassing five districts with over 3.5 million registered voters, will see 95 candidates vying for national assembly seats and 236 candidates contesting for provincial assembly positions.
The division’s polling stations, categorized based on security risk, include 1306 normal, 619 sensitive, 813 highly sensitive, and 55 improvised stations. In response to recent weather impacts, funds have been allocated for the repair and provision of missing facilities at rain-affected polling stations, ensuring all are operational by election day.
The Chief Minister outlined a strict code of conduct for political campaigning, limiting the size and placement of promotional materials and banning oversized banners, hoardings, wall-chalking, and unauthorized public meetings. Enforcement actions have been taken against violations, with cases registered and illegal banners removed.
Security arrangements are bolstered by the installation of sensitive CCTV cameras at polling stations, overseen by appointed focal persons for real-time surveillance. Additional logistical support includes the provision of generators, solar panels, and emergency lights to ensure uninterrupted power supply, alongside the readiness of health facilities to address any emergencies.
The comprehensive strategy underscores the commitment to maintaining order and integrity during the electoral process, with a focus on safety, transparency, and the promotion of democratic participation among the residents of Larkana division.
Islamabad, In a notable humanitarian effort, the Pakistan Navy, in coordination with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, successfully conducted a rescue operation saving the lives of nine Indian seamen at sea. The seamen were aboard the Ocean Tug SAS-5, which had been disabled near the Indian coast, losing all electrical power due to a failure in its electric generators.
According to Pakistan Navy, the distress signal from the tug, which had embarked from the Indian port of Debhol in Maharashtra on February 1, 2024, heading towards Sharjah, UAE, was received in the early hours of February 4, 2024. The Pakistan Navy’s Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Center (JMICC) swiftly responded to the emergency, deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to locate the stranded vessel 167 nautical miles southeast of Karachi.
The rescue operation, spearheaded by the Pakistan Maritime Security Ship (PMSS) KASHMIR, involved locating the tug, securing it alongside the rescue ship, and conducting extensive repair efforts. The crew of the tug received not only technical assistance but also medical facilities, fresh water, and cooked meals to alleviate their fatigue.
The operation culminated in the successful resumption of the tug’s journey towards Sharjah, UAE, after three hours of repair work. The professionalism and timely response of the Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency were greatly appreciated by the crew of the tug, highlighting the effectiveness of Pakistan’s maritime forces in conducting search and rescue operations in the region.