ECP seeks army’s help for LB, by-polls

CEC writes to COAS for military assistance to maintain security

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) requested on Monday for army’s help in maintaining security during the local bodies elections in Sindh and the by-elections in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Sindh scheduled over the next six weeks.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja sent a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, requesting for army’s assistance in the peaceful conduct of elections in the three provinces.

“Keeping in view the charged political environment and extreme polarisation,” CEC stated in the letter, “static deployment outside the polling stations of four provincial constituencies of Lahore during the by-election and one National Assembly by-election in NA-245 Karachi may also be provided to avoid recent incidents in Karachi by-election and a clash between two political parties in Lahore.”

In the letter, Raja stated that he would be grateful if necessary instructions were issued to all concerned under the COAS’s command to extend complete assistance in the form of security cover during the conduct of the elections.

While seeking COAS’s support and personal attention in the national cause, Raja said that under Article 220 of the Constitution, “it shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist” the ECP and the CEC in the discharge of their functions.

Raja while seeking all-out support by the law-enforcing agencies stated that the “ECP is proud of the assistance of the Pakistan Army for provision of a secure and safe environment during the conduct of general elections, by-elections and local government elections”.

He said that the recently-held local elections in K-P and Balochistan were a testimony to the fact that in sensitive area “our army formations assisted in the maintenance of law and order in an exemplary manner”. The ECP, he added, expected the same level of support.

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“It is essential to outline that some situations beyond the control of Civil LEAs will require a more proactive and enhanced role of the Army, at times requiring saving life and limb of the citizens,” Raja stated.

There are a number of elections scheduled in the coming weeks. Sindh will go into the first phase of local elections on June 26, the day when elections are scheduled for a provincial assembly seat in Swat.

By-elections are scheduled in 20 constituencies of Punjab Assembly on July 17. The second phase of Sindh local bodies elections would be held on July 24 while the by-elections would be held in NA-245 on July 27.

Letter to Sindh CM

The CEC’s letter comes just days after reports of violence in Lahore and during the recent by-election in NA-240 Karachi. The CEC had also written a separate letter to the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to take necessary measures for peaceful voting in NA-245.

In the letter, CEC Raja said that ECP expected commitment from the executive authorities for maintaining law and order in the area of the constituency during the conduct of elections, especially in sensitive areas with a history of political conflict or violence.

Raja drew Shah’s attention towards violence and snatching of ballot boxes during the Karachi by-elections, saying it was expected that the level of the administrative and security arrangements would be beefed up to the level where elections could be conducted peacefully.

“It may also be essential to call the assistance of the Army/Sindh Rangers at sensitive constituencies and static deployment outside the sensitive polling station,” Raja stated, adding that it was expected that exemplary action would be taken against the delinquents regardless of the party affiliation.