General elections: Fakhruddin G Ebrahim wants Army at all polling stations
Chief Election Commissioner says Army chief has assured him of all-out support.
Chief Election Commissioner says the only hurdle against ensuring free and fair elections is maintenance of law. PHOTO: APP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim wants the army to be deployed at all polling stations until the announcement of election results, Express News reported on Wednesday.
He said at least one personnel should be deployed at all polling booths.
Ebrahim was speaking during a high-level meeting held to formulate the “master plan” regarding administrative and security protocols for the upcoming general elections.
Calling maintenance of law and order the only hurdle against ensuring free and fair elections, the CEC said political parties will suffer the most if this does not happen.
He further said that Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has assured him of all-out support.
The meeting is being attended by top officials including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs and information; chiefs and home secretaries of all provinces; directors general Rangers and Frontier Corps; and all inspectors general of police.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had proposed seeking services of over 600,000 government officials as polling staff and thousands of law enforcement personnel, including the army, in a bid to maintain law and order during the 2013 polls.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed, speaking to the media in Islamabad, said that arrangements in recent by-elections were not satisfactory and special measures will be taken to ensure fairness and transparency in the general elections, reported Radio Pakistan.
According to the report, Ahmed said that the Election Commission is finalising the security plan for the next general elections in collaboration with the provincial governments. Around 500 district level security committees would be formed and Presiding Officers would get powers of the first class magistrate on the polling day, he added.
He further said that there will be a complete ban on issuance of weapons licence till the elections and all the chief secretaries have agreed to the decisions given by the commission to ensure transparency and law and order.
CCTV cameras will also be installed by provincial governments at sensitive polling stations, Ahmed added.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim wants the army to be deployed at all polling stations until the announcement of election results, Express News reported on Wednesday.
He said at least one personnel should be deployed at all polling booths.
Ebrahim was speaking during a high-level meeting held to formulate the “master plan” regarding administrative and security protocols for the upcoming general elections.
Calling maintenance of law and order the only hurdle against ensuring free and fair elections, the CEC said political parties will suffer the most if this does not happen.
He further said that Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has assured him of all-out support.
The meeting is being attended by top officials including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs and information; chiefs and home secretaries of all provinces; directors general Rangers and Frontier Corps; and all inspectors general of police.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had proposed seeking services of over 600,000 government officials as polling staff and thousands of law enforcement personnel, including the army, in a bid to maintain law and order during the 2013 polls.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed, speaking to the media in Islamabad, said that arrangements in recent by-elections were not satisfactory and special measures will be taken to ensure fairness and transparency in the general elections, reported Radio Pakistan.
According to the report, Ahmed said that the Election Commission is finalising the security plan for the next general elections in collaboration with the provincial governments. Around 500 district level security committees would be formed and Presiding Officers would get powers of the first class magistrate on the polling day, he added.
He further said that there will be a complete ban on issuance of weapons licence till the elections and all the chief secretaries have agreed to the decisions given by the commission to ensure transparency and law and order.
CCTV cameras will also be installed by provincial governments at sensitive polling stations, Ahmed added.