Chief Election Commissioner says the only hurdle against ensuring free and fair elections is maintenance of law. PHOTO: APP/FILE
He said at least one personnel should be deployed at all polling booths.
Ebrahim was speaking during a high-level meeting held to formulate the “master plan” regarding administrative and security protocols for the upcoming general elections.
Calling maintenance of law and order the only hurdle against ensuring free and fair elections, the CEC said political parties will suffer the most if this does not happen.
He further said that Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has assured him of all-out support.
The meeting is being attended by top officials including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs and information; chiefs and home secretaries of all provinces; directors general Rangers and Frontier Corps; and all inspectors general of police.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had proposed seeking services of over 600,000 government officials as polling staff and thousands of law enforcement personnel, including the army, in a bid to maintain law and order during the 2013 polls.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed, speaking to the media in Islamabad, said that arrangements in recent by-elections were not satisfactory and special measures will be taken to ensure fairness and transparency in the general elections, reported Radio Pakistan.
According to the report, Ahmed said that the Election Commission is finalising the security plan for the next general elections in collaboration with the provincial governments. Around 500 district level security committees would be formed and Presiding Officers would get powers of the first class magistrate on the polling day, he added.
He further said that there will be a complete ban on issuance of weapons licence till the elections and all the chief secretaries have agreed to the decisions given by the commission to ensure transparency and law and order.
CCTV cameras will also be installed by provincial governments at sensitive polling stations, Ahmed added.
COMMENTS (14)
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My friends from Karachi told me several first-hand incidents where they go to the polling booth and armed gunmen with ak47 tell them to go back home and that their vote has aleady been casted for them. We really need at least 5-6 soldiers on every polling booth to stop the bullying and fake voting in booths. Army needs to administer the election.
To the cheif election commision of Pakistan Hundred of Thousands illegal vote of Afghan refugees existing in Pakistans voter list .illegal vote should remove from the list of voters.
"Should be" OR "Will be"??
Good work ECP (Y). Now there is hope we will have free and fair elections and we can get rid of these corrupt politicians But on army personel there should be check and balance !
Army to control law and order. NADRA responsible for correct voter-list. Courts to decide on eligibility of candidates. Lower judiciary to oversee elctroral proceeding on the day. Where does the Election Commission role fits? Yes, perhaps to put thumb imression on the result card. Insn't it so ??.
great move but we need at least 3 to 4 personnel each 4 inside & 4 outside the polling booth
I'm assuming PMLN will oppose the move in Punjab because they obviously want Punjab Police to run the elections, not the army.
The bigotry will be exposed because they wanted an undemocratic and unconstitutional step of delimitation in Karachi without a national census. Now they will oppose a democratic need of ensuring public safety and freedom to cast votes by opposing deployment of army at poling stations.
Good move. But needs more army at each and every polling station in Karachi. I am from Karachi and I know that a lot of unfair means and bogus polling is made at karachi.
The politicians have brought this upon themselves. Had the prospective ticket holders not gone around slapping polling staff there would be no need for Army personel in the polling stations. I guess ECP has made this decision keeping in mind the jahil ticket holders who know no bounds when it comes to making sure that the polling stations are their 'jageers'
Awesome !
Army personnel should not only be deployed at booths but caste votes as well.
bingo!!
one army personnel per booth? lol it did no good in Karachi the last time army was employed at polling booths! Army should take control of the voting process, its administration, not the security only.
Fakhroo Bhai , This is your real exam that how you can prove your self as Ex-Judge. Deploy more then 5 to 6 army personal in side poling stations.