Army to be deployed for four days during polls

ECP formally writes letter to defence ministry for troop deployment

LAHORE: In an unprecedented measure, services of hundreds of thousands of army troops will be hired for four days – July 23 to July 26 – to provide security during the next month’s general elections, the top election body announced on Tuesday.

In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally written a letter to the Ministry of Defense for deployment of the army inside and outside the polling stations for the general elections slated for July 25.

“The ECP in its letter has requested the Ministry of Defence for army deployment from July 23 till July 26,” said an official statement issued by the commission.

In the past, the army was usually only deployed outside of polling stations that were declared 'most sensitive'. This time, however, troops will be deployed in and outside all polling stations across the country.

The deployment will be in addition to the security cover the army will be providing for government printing presses where ballot papers will be prepared.

The additional troops will be guarding the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press in Islamabad, National Printing Security Company in Karachi, and Pakistan Post Foundation in Islamabad.

The deployment will start on June 27. In addition to providing security at the printing presses, the troops will also be providing security for ballot papers and other election material being transported to the offices of returning officers and then to polling stations.

Army, Rangers, and police officials assigned security duties for the July 25 polls would be given training on the election process and a code of conduct would be provided to them regarding enlisting their duties.

The ECP official said the step has been taken to ensure security officials know exactly what their role is, where they can intervene and where cannot.

ECP officials would train master trainers of those departments that would further impart training to their staffers to be deputed on election duty.

In addition to this general training, the ECP would develop a code of conduct for law-enforcement agencies, elaborating on their roles.

“The presiding officer is in charge of a polling station. All other officials – including those deputed for security duty – should be assisting him or her,” the official said, adding there were incidents in the past where officials deputed were confused about their roles.

There will be more than 85,000 polling stations situated in around 45,000 buildings across the country. More than 350,000 army troops would be needed to secure those areas.

Having a history of attacks on its officials in some areas during the last general elections, the ECP is concerned about the security of the election staff – including returning officials. The ECP has hired the services of 0.8 million government servants from different departments for election duty.

Attacks were carried out on the ECP officials in Balochistan during the last elections in which few officials had lost their lives.

Special persons

Meanwhile, people with disabilities have been given the option of submitting postal ballots. Anyone tagged as a special person by NADRA on their CNIC may collect a postal ballot by July 5.