Army's assistance sought to conduct free and fair general elections: ISPR

DG ISPR says armed forces shall undertake this duty enabling the people to freely exercise their democratic right

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requisitioned Pakistan Army to assist them in the conduct of upcoming general elections, said the Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor in a statement on Saturday.

"ECP has requisitioned Pak Armed Forces under Article 220 & 245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair & transparent conduct of Elections 2018," the DG said.

"Shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe & secure environment", he added.

ECP has requisitioned Pak Armed Forces under Article 220&245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair & transparent conduct of Elections2018. Shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe & secure environment. pic.twitter.com/nC2MMKSKRG

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 21, 2018

The statement comes days after Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Army Elections Support Centre in Rawalpindi.

Gen Qamar directed that the Army shall assist ECP strictly within the bounds of given mandate and as per the Commission's code of conduct.

Earlier, Maj Gen Ghafoor apprised the Senate Standing Committee on the Interior that 371,000 army personnel will be deployed for the election duty. He said the Army is also providing security to printing presses where the ballot papers are being prepared. He had reiterated that the Army had no direct role in the upcoming elections.