CEC writes to Army chief. PHOTO: FILE
The CEC wrote a letter to the army chief, stating that the current security plan is inadequate.
Stressing that ensuring free and fair elections will be a joint effort, Ebrahim said the presence of the army at polling booths will eradicate the chances of rigging and violence.
The CEC had declared 12,716 polling stations as sensitive.
Since April, the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban have killed more than 100 people in attacks on candidates and rallies, particularly those of secular-leaning parties, in a bid to undermine elections they regard as un-Islamic.
Pakistan's military said on Thursday it would send tens of thousands of troops to polling stations and counting centres to prevent the Taliban from disrupting the election.
The polls, already Pakistan's most violent, marks the first time that a civilian government will complete a full term and hand over to another administration.
Army spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said 300,000 security officials, including 32,000 troops, had been deployed in Punjab, the most populous province.
"Definitely they have reports and obviously they have made a plan to counter that," newspapers quoted him as saying, referring to security agencies getting threats of violence from the Taliban.
Another 96,000 security forces would be deployed in the northwest of Pakistan, where the Taliban operate from strongholds.
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"The polls, already Pakistan’s most violent" - banana journalism at its best.. go research a bit on past elections...
Weird comment by KP. Elections r being held in all provinces, campaigns in full swing although more in punjab and sindh, less in KP and baluchistan. But still its funny to say elections being held in punjab only.
He has passed the buck received from the President earlier.
@ Enlightened You are absolutely right.
This is a farce of an election which needs to be stopped till TTP is completely eliminated by the military. CEC Pakistan observations are totally correct, but he needs to take a firm decision whether security cover is foolproof to conduct free and fair elections in Pakistan. Indian media who is closely monitoring the election scenario in Pakistan is only asking 'What is happening in Pakistan' ?
Is it really true that elections are happening only in Punjab. Even major Non secular leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan have done almost all the rallies in Punjab only. This article mentions about army deployment in Punjab. I fail to understand if we are really only one Federation.
Army inside the Polling Station is necessary in order to eliminate possibility of "Thappa Express", which is hallmark of some of the Political Parties. Good suggestion by CEC. Army should respond positively.
We must not allow CEC to defame the Army.
I wonder why army is not being deployed in Karachi?
Well, there is two types of security required in the elections. One is general other is at the polling stations to check rigging and both are important. At time the latter would be more important than the former since upon this depends the future of Pakistan, otherwise old wine in new bottles for NFP to enjoy.