PESHAWAR: Peshawar police have declined the responsibility of providing security to election candidates in the run-up to the 2024 general elections, as reported by ARY News.
Details reveal that Peshawar police have advised political party candidates to hire security personnel from private security companies. However, the police will continue to offer security for corner meetings and public rallies during the election campaigns.
The decision not to provide security to election candidates stems from a shortage of additional security personnel, as they will be deployed at polling stations during the 2024 elections.
This development follows the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) releasing a list of political figures who have received threats ahead of the upcoming general elections. According to the CTD, 15 politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have received threats from terrorists.
Among the political leaders receiving threats are MNA Mohsin Dawar, former provincial minister Imtiaz Qureshi, Senator Hidayatullah, former PML-N MNA Amir Maqam, former PTI MNA Pir Mansoor Shah, Shah Muhammad, JUI-F’s Malik Adnan Wazir, Ehsanullah, Senator Bakhti Afsar, and Senator Maulana Abdur Rasheed.
It’s worth noting that within a day, at least six people were killed and 13 others sustained injuries in violent incidents in Balochistan’s Sibi, Quetta, Chaman, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared approximately 50% of polling stations in the country as ‘sensitive’ or ‘most sensitive.’ Out of a total of 90,675 polling stations, 46,065 have been designated as ‘sensitive’ or ‘most sensitive’ by the ECP.
