COAS directs troops to perform election duty with 'utmost responsibility'

Corps commanders discuss geostrategic situation

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday directed troops, who are being deployed for the July 25 parliamentary polls, to perform this ‘national duty’ with utmost responsibility and without losing focus on defence and national security challenges in hand.

The direction came during a meeting of the corps commanders held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to review geostrategic issues, besides the role of armed forces sought by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the elections.



A statement issued by the military’s media wing said the top brass discussed the provision of ‘mandated assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the free, fair and transparent conduct of the general elections 2018’.

“[The] COAS directed that this national duty is performed with utmost responsibility and without losing any focus on defence and internal security challenges in hand,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Earlier this week, the ECP announced that between 350,000 and 400,000 personnel from the armed forces would be deployed inside and outside polling stations for the July 25 exercise.

Security of the printing facilities of the election commission in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad has already been handed over to the troops.

Personnel from the armed forces usually perform security duties in every general election,s but this is the first time that such a huge number is being requisitioned for the upcoming polls.



Meanwhile, corps commanders also reviewed the geostrategic environment, and recent security and other related developments in the region.

They decided to continue contributing positive efforts towards carrying forward the dividends of domestic peace and stability beyond borders to the region.

“Progress of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and socioeconomic development in cleared areas was also deliberated with a commitment to achieve lasting peace and stability,” the statement said.