National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): 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.