There are certain areas where full security might have to be provided by the army. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened a high-level meeting on January 2 in an effort to devise an elaborate security plan for the upcoming general elections.
The ECP’s analysis of the country’s law and order situation has paved the way for a far greater role for the army alongside paramilitary and police forces during the elections.
There are certain areas where full security might have to be provided by the army, while in other areas the army will be acting in aid of civil authorities, according to the ECP agenda for the January 2 meeting, shared with The Express Tribune.
According to the agenda, over 600,000 polling staffers would be required for about 80,000 polling stations across the country.
The ECP said it was aware of the army’s responsibilities. However, it added that “it (army) will have to perform additional responsibilities during the 2013 elections in accordance with requirement identified by provincial governments.”
“In Karachi, political parties have demanded that one army soldier should also be deployed inside the polling station besides army troops outside each polling station so that voters can cast votes without fear,” the ECP document said.
The meeting – to be attended by all provincial police chiefs, home and chief secretaries – will identify sensitive areas and polling stations. The meeting will also discuss enforcement of a ban on display of weapons, as it is a responsibility of federal and provincial governments to provide security to the contestants.
“Or else, they will have to be exempted from the ban so that they could make their own necessary security arrangements,” it stated.
The ECP has also proposed a district/agency elections security committee comprising respective district returning officer or deputy commissioner or political agent and district police officer (DPO). This committee is tasked with reviewing the law and order situation and dispose of complaints.
The security plan will also be sent to all provincial election commissioners (PECs) and the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad through the ECP secretary.
As for the manpower requirements, secretaries for education and establishment divisions will provide updated lists of their employees to the PECs for preparation of database by the ECP. The lists would also be verified from the district accounts officers or accountant general Pakistan revenue (AGPR), according to the agenda paper.
“The employees’ availability for performing national duty as presiding officers and poling staff must be ensured,” it added.
The ECP expects a large number of foreign and local election observers to monitor the elections and expects the federal and provincial governments to arrange for logistical support and security of the monitoring teams.
By finalising the security arrangements for the upcoming elections, the commission aims to also improve Pakistan’s “fragile law and order situation” by using the entire security apparatus of the country.
“Once the general law and order improves as a result of peaceful and fair elections, it would certainly help in lessening the burden of all, in terms of onerous duties performed for maintaining security throughout the country.”
The meeting to be chaired by the ECP secretary would also discuss establishment of polling stations in Fata and camps of internally displaced persons.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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@Helix:
There is no military rule TODAY....I dare media to expose those corruptions during military rule....they cannot, because there were not too many, & if there were, it was camouflaged by good governance....that is what people need....eat 10% but for god`s sake but spend 90%, but what is happening TODAY is the reverse....name any country, barring few where there is no corruption, but due to good governance, those corruptions are camouflaged....our neighbor INDIA is more corrupt than us....the level of corruption is at such a level that all political parties have ganged up against Anna Hazare & forced him to form a political party...get elected & then fight " Corruption "....under such a demanding situation does poor Anna Hazare has that much resources needed to fight election ? forcing him to retreat & keep low profile..although he has not given up his fight.....
Please for once give a break to Army and do your task yourself.
Without army's support,monitoring and observation next 2013's general elections,if held on time,are impossible without violation and violence because in the by-elections in Punjab ECP,present government and police have seen their orders' implementation's conditions and poorest and worst ever performances and also have seen that how easily,openly,brutally,shamelessly and fearlessly ECP's orders and rules were broken in the by-elections in Punjab.....
@PakPower: Sir, I completely agree with you. If there is no army in force to oversee the polling and counter the 'dhandli culture,' the rogues and blackguards will again come to occupy the parliament and further mess up the country. The candidates should be told to arrange their own security because the citizens of this country are facing the wrath of militancy and terrorism. In addition to the aforesaid, the candidates having enough wealth, can easily employ retired forces personnel to beef up their security and train their personal guards. The bankrupt country can ill afford to pamper these 'paindoos' any further and needs to direct the security to guard installations and protect citizens. Salams
Good Luck ECP. The Security Personnel to be deputed on election day should be educated that they have a right to vote through postal balloting and they should also be motivated by their respective departmental heads to cast their vote.
Army is always painted as the angel in khaki. But the fact is, neither the media nor the politicians dare inquire into the source of the immense wealth that the generals possess. The only reason why it seemed that there was less corruption during military rule was because the media dare not highlight corruption under the generals.
@PakPower: Well said. Also elections need not be held on single day. It may be staggered for security and logistical reasons.
We require the army for a smooth transition of power because of the increasing militancy among political parties and the dhandli culture. I don't think the elections would be free and fair if the army is kept at the sidelines. So, the ECP should ensure that the army keeps the situation stringent during the elections.