The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued a code of conduct for the troops to be deployed outside polling stations on the election day, informing them that they must remain neutral throughout the process and not interfere in the counting of votes.
On Wednesday, the federal cabinet gave the nod to the deployment of troops outside sensitive polling stations.
The code of conduct read that the security personnel belonging to the armed forces shall perform their duties in accordance with their role defined in Article 245 of the Constitution, law and within the confines of the mandate assigned to them to assist the ECP in conducting the general elections by providing a secure environment for easy and secure access of voters to polling stations.
It added that the police would be the first-tier responders while civil armed forces and armed as second- and third-tier ones, respectively.
It read that the armed forces would be deployed outside the selected “most sensitive polling stations” and they would ensure the security of printing presses during the printing of ballot papers.
The code of conduct stated that the troops would provide security during the transportation of ballot papers from the printing presses to the offices of district returning officers.
Similarly, they will also be responsible for the security during transportation of election material from offices of returning officers to polling stations and back after completion of polling and counting.
“[The troops will] perform their functions under articles 220 and 245 (inclusive of all clauses/sub clauses) of the Constitution of Pakistan, sections four and five of Anti-Terrorist Act (ATA),1997 (as amended) and Section V read with Section 193 of the Elections Act, 2017,” it read.
“Each officer and junior commissioned officer of the armed forces of Pakistan and civil armed forces shall exercise powers delegated to them vide Notification No F21 (1)12023-Elec-l dated 25th January, 2024 issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan,” it continued.
The code read that the troops would facilitate in the provision of a secure environment so as to enable district returning officers, returning officers, presiding officers and polling staff in the accomplishment of their assigned tasks.
Read also: ECP instructs cops to stay outside polling stations
It told the troops to remain “impartial and neutral throughout the election process in general” and during the “voting process in particular” and not act in favour of or against any political party or candidate.
The ECP told the troops to observe politeness while dealing with voters and election staff and display immaculate behaviour while remaining firm.
It added that just in dealing, they must act in accordance with the law while addressing any situation.
The commission told the troops to identify suspicious voters for frisking by the police personnel before entering the premises of a polling station to ensure that no person could bring with them any weapon, explosives or undesirable item.
“While performing duty outside the selected most sensitive polling stations, [the troops should] exclusively concentrate on ensuring [a] secure environment. While performing their duties, [they] are supposed to first report to the presiding officer along with informing in [their] own chain of command of any irregularity/issue/malpractice having the potential to create [a] law and order/security situation,” the code of conduct continued.
“In case, the presiding officer does not act to prevent the commission of any reported irregularity/issue/malpractice, the security staff will immediately inform [the] concerned returning officer,” it further read.
The ECP instructed the troops to abide by all the relevant laws and continuously work to gain general public's trust by ensuring a safe environment as well as maintaining law and order during the election process.
It warned that that a district returning officer or returning officer could visit a polling station at any time. The commission further told the troops that accredited observers and media personnel were allowed to enter a polling station.
It also told them not to prevent any eligible voter from entering a polling station, except those who were found in possession of a weapon, explosives or undesirable items or the ones who created disturbance and incitement to an act of violence or an action which was prejudice to national safety and the interests of Pakistan.
Read: Over 5,000 polling stations sensitive
The troops were told that they could not in any case assume the duties of the polling staff.
They were further instructed that they could not take into their custody any election material, including ballot papers, marking aid stamps, official code mark stamps, electoral rolls, ballot boxes, Form-45 and Form-46, etc.
The ECP told them that they could not enter into arguments or altercation with any candidate, election agent, polling agent, observer or media person in any manner.
The troops were told not to interfere in any manner in the functions of a presiding officer, assistant presiding officer or polling officer.
The code further instructed the troops not to respond on their own to an apparent irregularity outside a polling station and bring the matter to the knowledge of the presiding officer, taking necessary direction from him on the issue.
“In case, [the] irregularity or malpractice continues, [the troops] shall inform their officer in-charge immediately, so that necessary legal action can be taken,” it added.
Finally, the code instructed the troops not to interfere in the counting process in any manner. Instead, they should perform their duties outside polling stations in a peaceful manner and diligently so that the counting process could be completed in a cordial way.
The federal cabinet also used a notification that read that the troops – deployed outside sensitive polling stations from Feb 5 till 10 – would serve as a rapid response force.
It added that the deployment of army personnel would play a major role in the transparent and peaceful polling process.
The notification continued that the civil armed forces would also be deployed at the Printing Corporation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Post Foundation.
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