Unprecedented Arrangements Made For AJK Election: Chief Secretary

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st july,2016) : Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sikandar Sultan Raja on Thursday said government has taken unprecedented steps to ensure transparent elections in AJK. "Unprecedented arrangements had been made for holding the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner in AJK", he stated. Talking to ptv news he said government would not allow anyone to violate election's code of conduct and intervene in process of fair elections as army fully cooperating with the local administration to support them. He asked political parties to follow rules and refrain from violating law and order during the AJK polls. Chief Secretary said every voter has the right to equal and effective access to a polling station to exercise his or her right to vote. Besides the Pak Army and Rangers, Additional police from Pakistan has also been called in to assist the local police for maintaining complete peace and order during polling. Sikandar Raja said that he was monitoring all arrangements himself and issued instructions to all security forces and government officials to play their role in conducting peaceful election.

He said after polling election material would be handed over under to authorities, adding that until announcement of results security would be ensured.

He further informed that security would be beefed up at sensitive polling stations to avert any untoward incident. "We also have an ideal communication network between administration and law enforcing agencies, as we can communicate each other easily", he informed. The forces had been given free hand to take swift action against those who would try to derail the peaceful election process, he added. Sikandar said he had asked the government officials to remain neutral. AJK Chief Secretary said his office was open round the clock for all political parties to deal their complaints within time. He said the upgradation and computerization of voter's lists was not an easy task but the administration did it timely and the process of ballot papers from publication to supply was held under the supervision of army.