ECP rolls back decision to deploy army inside all polling stations

Military will be present inside tribal districts’ ‘sensitive’ polling stations only

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rolled back its decision to deploy the military inside all polling stations during elections in the tribal districts on July 20, limiting them to ‘sensitive’ ones only.

It has also lifted the imposition of Section 144 in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) after receiving complaints that candidates were facing difficulties in running their election campaigns.

The decision was made at a meeting of the ECP presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Sardar Raza Khan. It was attended by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa election commissioner, additional chief secretary, the interior secretary, returning officers and security officials.

The participants of the meeting were informed that all necessary arrangements had been made for holding free, transparent and peaceful elections in the tribal districts.

The chief election commissioner directed the provincial government to not release development funds to the districts until the elections were held. He further directed the district returning officers and returning officers to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct issued by ECP for election

The provincial government assured the ECP that it would install CCTV cameras at all polling stations.

The participants of the meeting were informed about ECP's endeavors to ensure that the maximum number of registered voters turned up at polling stations to exercise their right of franchise under a free and secure environment, especially female voters.

Female security personnel will be deployed at all female and combined polling stations.