Army to be deployed at ‘sensitive’ areas: ECP
The commission imposes ban on issuance of new arms licences.
The commission imposes ban on issuance of new arms licences. PHOTO: APP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Already engaged and over-stretched in militancy-hit areas and the eastern and western borders, the Pakistan Army will not be able to spare enough personnel to guard every polling station in the country, as some political parties had demanded.
A high-level meeting at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) headquarters on Wednesday decided that the military would only be deputed at polling stations declared ‘sensitive’ by the provincial authorities and in the violence-hit metropolis of Karachi.
However, the number of civilian servants who will help election authorities in conducting polls would be increased from 600,000 to 700,000.
Attended by top officials of the country – including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs, information, chiefs and home secretaries of provinces, DGs of Rangers and Frontier Corps and all inspectors general (IG) of police – the meeting also decided to impose a ban on issuance of new arms licences — both prohibited and non-prohibited.
Briefing reporters regarding the key decisions taken during the marathon meeting, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said the federal secretary, interior and provincial home secretaries have been asked to issue notifications in this regard. The ban will continue till the completion of the election process.
“There will be 80,000 polling stations across the country. You can well imagine
how many army personnel will be required if they have to be deputed at every single station,” the defence secretary was quoted as
telling the meeting.
It was also decided that polls will be held in all parts of the country including Fata and Balochistan.
ECP’s secretary said the commission is still working on delimitations in Karachi as per the Supreme Court orders taken on December 13.
The meeting also decided that all 547 platoons of Frontier Constabulary (FC) would be sent to the borders between the settled areas and the lawless tribal areas, as per their original mandate. Almost half of the FC is deputed with VIPs, NGOs and other sensitive areas for security duties.
The contesting candidates will only be allowed to have a maximum of six private security guards who would be able to accompany them to polling stations to ensure security.
Among the key decisions taken, the meeting also decided that the authorities concerned will be directed to restrict the movement of Afghan refugees two weeks prior to the polling day.
The meeting also decided that international observers would be allowed to come to Pakistan to monitor the elections only for a week and will be required to follow the code of conduct prepared for them.
The ECP will decide shortly whether the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) can be declared as constituencies for elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.
Already engaged and over-stretched in militancy-hit areas and the eastern and western borders, the Pakistan Army will not be able to spare enough personnel to guard every polling station in the country, as some political parties had demanded.
A high-level meeting at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) headquarters on Wednesday decided that the military would only be deputed at polling stations declared ‘sensitive’ by the provincial authorities and in the violence-hit metropolis of Karachi.
However, the number of civilian servants who will help election authorities in conducting polls would be increased from 600,000 to 700,000.
Attended by top officials of the country – including secretaries of federal ministries of defence, interior, establishment, foreign affairs, information, chiefs and home secretaries of provinces, DGs of Rangers and Frontier Corps and all inspectors general (IG) of police – the meeting also decided to impose a ban on issuance of new arms licences — both prohibited and non-prohibited.
Briefing reporters regarding the key decisions taken during the marathon meeting, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said the federal secretary, interior and provincial home secretaries have been asked to issue notifications in this regard. The ban will continue till the completion of the election process.
“There will be 80,000 polling stations across the country. You can well imagine
how many army personnel will be required if they have to be deputed at every single station,” the defence secretary was quoted as
telling the meeting.
It was also decided that polls will be held in all parts of the country including Fata and Balochistan.
ECP’s secretary said the commission is still working on delimitations in Karachi as per the Supreme Court orders taken on December 13.
The meeting also decided that all 547 platoons of Frontier Constabulary (FC) would be sent to the borders between the settled areas and the lawless tribal areas, as per their original mandate. Almost half of the FC is deputed with VIPs, NGOs and other sensitive areas for security duties.
The contesting candidates will only be allowed to have a maximum of six private security guards who would be able to accompany them to polling stations to ensure security.
Among the key decisions taken, the meeting also decided that the authorities concerned will be directed to restrict the movement of Afghan refugees two weeks prior to the polling day.
The meeting also decided that international observers would be allowed to come to Pakistan to monitor the elections only for a week and will be required to follow the code of conduct prepared for them.
The ECP will decide shortly whether the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) can be declared as constituencies for elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.