ISLAMABAD: More than twenty politicians in the province of Punjab are facing security threats during the electioneering of upcoming general elections, said Dr Usman Anwar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, the IGP disclosed this information after participating in a significant meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, in Islamabad. The meeting was summoned to discuss security arrangements for the upcoming elections.
Due to security concerns, Dr Usman Anwar refrained from revealing the names of the politicians under threat.
He highlighted a security challenge in Punjab, stating that the province is grappling with a shortage of 92,000 security personnel.
Despite this, he emphasized that the electoral environment in Punjab is conducive, with 120,000 personnel deployed for the elections—a substantial increase from the 60,000 deployed in the previous elections.
The IGP forewarned of a potential deficit of 92,000 personnel at polling stations in Punjab, considering the notable increase in the number of polling stations to over 50,000 for the upcoming elections.
The Election Commission of Pakistan meeting brought together officials from the Interior Ministry and representatives from all four provinces to address various aspects of election preparedness and security concerns.
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