Govt deploys army for by-poll security

ECP grants first-class magistrate powers to military and civil officers

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan, exercising its constitutional powers under Articles 218(3) and 220, has issued a formal notification for multi-tier deployment of the Pakistan Army, the Civil Armed Forces, and local police for the by-elections on November 23.

Based on the Interior Ministry's recommendation and federal approval the Pakistan Army and the Civil Armed Forces will remain in standby/response mode from November 22-24. Rangers will function as Quick Reaction Force in the third defensive tier.

The forces will have full powers under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to prevent any illegal activity or disorder during the election days.

Deployment will apply to National Assembly (NA) and provincial assembly constituencies across Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Lahore, Mianwali, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Haripur.

The ECP has granted first-class magistrate powers to military and civil officers for November 22–24, enabling them to take immediate legal action under CrPC Section 190(1). The polls oversight authority is holding by-elections on five NA and 7 provincial assembly seats in Punjab.

The security forces and police will be deployed at NA-18, NA-96, NA-104, NA-143, NA-185, NA-129 constituencies of the National Assembly and PP-73, PP-98, PP-115, PP-116, PP-203, PP-269, PP-87 of the Punjab Assembly.

The final number of personnel will be decided jointly by the Punjab Home Department and the ECP.