ECP to defence ministry : ‘Deploy army for Punjab by-polls’

Poll body cites sensitivity of the situation, candidates’ demands for the directive

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/MULTAN:

The top polls supervisory body has approached the Ministry of Defence to seek Pakistan Army’s help in conducting by-elections at the constituencies, which have recently fallen vacant in Punjab.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the ministry to deploy Pakistan Army in and outside the polling stations during the by-elections at NA-153 (Multan-VI) and NA-101 (Gujranwala-VII) constituencies, where balloting is scheduled for March 17 and March 21, respectively.

The ECP’s Additional Director General Mujahid Hussain wrote to the ministry that in view of sensitivity of the situation, demand of the contesting candidates as well as the request made by the provincial election commissioner, Punjab district returning officer and returning officer, army troops might be deployed at the constituencies.

Similarly, the ECP also wants deployment of paramilitary Rangers in PS-59 Badin where election for a Sindh Assembly seat is due on March 15. It has written a letter to Rangers director general asking for deployment of the paramilitary troops at the constituency from March 14 to 16.

Meanwhile, the PTI has also demanded that the ECP issue schedule for by-elections at NA-267 Jhal Magsi in Balochistan province. The seat had recently fallen vacant after Supreme Court disqualified Khalid Hussain Magsi.

‘PTI to expose opportunists’

Meanwhile, the PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that the PML-N government is using public resources to secure its victory at the by-polls at NA-153 and is shifting candidates to Lahore by special planes to stop them from contesting the by-election on March 17.

Addressing a press conference at his residence on Friday, Qureshi said the PTI is contesting the by-polls to expose its members who are secretly campaigning for the PML-N candidate at the cost of petty interests and rewards.

He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan is very much committed to exposing politics of benefits. “The PTI is contesting the by-poll for the victory of the party’s ideology and commitment. It does not matter whether the PTI is winning or losing but it will expose the opportunists,” he said.

Qureshi said the PTI chairman would arrive in Multan on March 13 to address a public meeting in Jalalpur Pirwala and address election meeting at Ali Mushtaq Stadium. “The PML-N and the PPP are responsible for backwardness of Jalalpur Pirwala,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.