Army, Rangers to be deployed for Punjab by-polls: ECP

Security personnel will be deployed in NA-122 Lahore, NA-144 Okara, NA-154 Lodhran, PP-147 Lahore and PP-16 Attock

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Monday to deploy Pakistan Army soldiers and Punjab Rangers officials during the upcoming by-polls in Punjab.

Army and Rangers personnel will be deployed in the constituencies of NA-122 Lahore, NA-144 Okara, NA-154 Lodhran, PP-147 Lahore and PP-16 Attock, a press release stated.

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The country’s top electoral body has written letters to secretary interior and secretary defence asking them to issue necessary directions for the deployment of sufficient strength of the army and Rangers personnel for the by-polls.

Further, the ECP asked parliamentarians to submit their yearly statements of assets by the end of the current month.

The coveted NA-122, Lahore, seat fell vacant after an election tribunal in its verdict on August 22 found irregularities in the 2013 general elections, ultimately causing Sadiq, the former National Assembly speaker, to step down.

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Similarly, the NA-154, Lodhran seat was vacated after the disqualification of PML-N’s MNA Siddique Baloch on a petition filed by PTI’s Jehangir Tareen over alleged rigging in the general elections.