Army deployment should not affect elections, says Mushahid Ullah Khan

PML-N spokesperson says the commission should ensure free and fair elections

LAHORE : Former federal minister Mushahidullah Khan has expressed concern over the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to deploy army for security of polling station and said “deployment of armed forces should not affect election outcome in any way”.

Armed forces deployment should only be deployed ensure free and fair elections, he said adding that it’s not the very decision of deployment that concerns Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rather it’s the fall out of army deployment on election results.
Khan said PML-N will have no reservation with the decision if army ensures free and fair election. However, he lamented that the way army deployment impacted the voting process during NA-120, is what concerns the party.

Free and fair elections should not only take place, it should also be seen to be taking place, he added.

Regarding the similar question of party’s reservation with the ECP decision, party spokesperson Maryyium Aurangzeb said election commission should ensure free and fair election takes place. She said it was ECP’s responsibility to ensure that their Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines are followed in letter and spirit.
She also raised NA-120 case and said it should not happen again. Adding that unlike that constituency, media should be given access in the polling stations, she stressed.

It is pertinent to mention that PML-N has on multiple occasions expressed reservations with NA-120 elections. The party alleges that their key workers from constituency were abducted hours before the election day and their voters were not allowed to cast their vote.

On the other hand, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryum Nawaz reached London on Thursday where according party sources they headed straight to the hospital to meet Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

According to party sources, Kulsoom was moved to hospital after her health deteriorated. It was revealed that she was undergoing cancer treatment since last year in London and was advised to be hospitalised for a few days.