21,298 contesting local govt polls in 14 districts of Sindh.

KARACHI -- Provincial administration and the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday reviewed the arrangements for the first phase of the local government elections scheduled to be held on June 26 in 143 Town Committees, 14 District Councils, one Metropolitan Corporation and 45 Town Municipal Corporations of four of the six divisions of Sindh.

At a meeting chaired jointly by Election Commission Secretary Omar Hameed Khan and Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput, it was stated that there were 2,980 highly sensitive polling stations in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, where Rangers along with police would be deployed.

The meeting participants were informed that as many as 21,298 candidates were participating in the first phase.

In the second phase, elections will be held in 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

Murad, ECP review arrangements; 37,189 cops to be deployed in Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions

Separately, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a law and order meeting regarding LG polls and directed the police department to demonstrate zero tolerance while maintaining law and order during the election being held in 14 districts of the four divisions.

The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Home Secretary Saeed Mangnijo, Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, Additional IG-Karachi Javed Odho and DIGs concerned. The commissioners of Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions attended the meeting through video link.

The chief minister directed the home department to impose Section 144 of the criminal procedure code against display of arms during the LG elections and also asked the police to deploy the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in case of any emergency.

He told the divisional administration and the police to meet the political parties and groups contesting the election and take them into confidence in respect of the...