Reservations: ‘Army presence essential at all polling stations’

Imran called for deployment of army at all polling stations, not just the “sensitive” ones identified by the ECP.

ISLAMABAD:

With one day left to the by-elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan called for deployment of army personnel at all polling stations in the country on August 22 and not just the “sensitive” ones identified by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He was addressing a rally in support of Asad Umar, a contestant for NA-48 Islamabad, a seat vacated by PTI Central President Javed Hashmi in favour of a NA seat in his native Multan. Hashmi beat the incumbent MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan of PML-N, who sits out this time around as PML-N gave a ticket to Ashraf Gujjar instead.

Imran said the polling staff drawn from provincial bureaucracies had failed to maintain the sanctity of the ballot during the May 11 election. “Therefore, it is essential to have the army present at all polling stations.”

He reiterated that the PTI would not tolerate a repeat of irregularities and rigging that had marred the May 11 general election.

The by-elections for 16 National Assembly seats and 26 provincial assembly seats across the country will be held on August 22.

Most of these seats were vacated by members who had won from multiple constituencies in the May 11 general elections.

Of the 7,622 polling stations to be set up for the by-elections, 3,644 have been declared ‘sensitive’, with 1,657 falling in the category of ‘highly sensitive’, revealed the figures.

A total of 180 candidates are vying for 15 Punjab Assembly seats, 82 for four Sindh Assembly seats, 32 for three Balochistan Assembly seats and 27 for four Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly seats.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2013.