“Once we receive ECP’s final plan, we will decide accordingly,” says military official.
The country’s top army commanders have decided to extend all-out support to authorities in order to ensure free, fair and transparent parliamentary elections, scheduled for this spring.
The commanders discussed the military’s role in the upcoming general elections along with the current security situation at a meeting of corps commanders chaired by Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Friday.
According to a security official, Gen Kayani briefed the corps commanders about his recent meetings with the chief election commissioner (CEC) and the National Database and Registration Authority chairman to evolve a strategy for providing military assistance to civilian authorities for the elections.
The meeting participants agreed that it was the armed forces’ duty to play their part in this regard, the official told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity.
Keeping in mind the country’s volatile security situation and fears of rigging, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought the military’s support for the upcoming elections.
At a recent ECP meeting, CEC Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said he wanted the deploy army troops at all polling stations across the country.
However, given the military’s preoccupation with the fight against militancy in the tribal areas, the army might not be able to spare enough manpower for the polls.
“We will provide all the necessary assistance to the ECP,” said another military official, but added that they have yet to decide how many troops would be spared for the elections. “Once we receive ECP’s final plan, we will decide accordingly,” he added.
According to him, despite the deployment of around 150,000 troops along the border with Afghanistan, the military will make sure the required troops are available for the elections.
The ECP has already engaged the military for the re-verification of voter lists in Karachi at the direction of the Supreme Court.
TTP’s truce offer
The corps commanders also discussed the recent truce offer by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In a video message delivered to media outlets recently, TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud said his group was willing to negotiate with the government. He, however, attached certain preconditions with the offer, which include rewriting the Constitution in accordance to Islamic law, breaking ties with the US and shifting focus back towards India from the war in Afghanistan.
According to military officials, the top commanders maintained it was too early to draw any conclusion from TTP’s offer. They agreed that the military offensive against their hideouts would continue and left it to the government to take a final decision whether to accept militants’ offer.
A brief statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the meeting undertook a comprehensive review of “routine professional matters and security environment in the country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (14)
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@Naseer Ahmad
Are you serious?
@Naseer Ahmad: What was your grade in Pakistan Studies?
The Army has tainted its reputation to such an extent over the past 55 years, that even when it seemingly wants to do a good deed with good intentions people are sceptical. Can't blame them...... but I for one would not mind giving khakis an opportunity to redeem themselves in front of the People of Pakistan (who are the real owners and pay masters of the Army)
Under what legal authority did the Army chief meet the CEC or NADRA head? With a history of manipulating elections what gurantees are they that they wont do it now? What nonsense, tens of thousands of people are dead, and they seem to have the time to meet state officials and promise to "aid" elections.
@ Devil Hunter X "Army! Aiding election since Ayub Khan!" The comment implies a light satire. The comparison about the army role in elections held in Ayub Khan, General Zia and General Musharraf regimes with the one to be held under the current oligarchic civilian dispensation seems far fetched in the presence of an independent Judiciary.
Why is it that the Army has to be called in by civil authorities to conduct the elections? This is not the Army's job, The civil authorities should be sufficiently organized and impartial to conduct free and fair elections, without the Army's involvement. This is the typical historical pattern in Pakistan, where the civilians drag the military into political areas, and then turn around and complain that the Army has not allowed democracy to take root.
At this time the civilian government should be declaring war on the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, and tasking the Army to pursue this war with full force and without limitation, instead it is distracting the military with civilian duties.
If I were the military commander I would resign rather than follow this stupid directive of the government, because it is a trap for the Army. If there is any rigging during the elections, which inevitably there will be given the corrupt instincts of most politicians, the blame will fall on the Army for not preventing it or even colluding in the rigging.
Army! Aiding election since Ayub Khan!
"ISLAMABAD:The country’s top army commanders have decided to extend all-out support to authorities in order to ensure free, fair and transparent parliamentary elections, scheduled for this spring." Now this can be said surely and assuredly that next general elections of 2013,if are held,can/shall be free,fair and transparent under Zardari's presidency because sans army's support next general elections to be held in free,fair and transparent form were seeming impossible because in the by-elections in Punjab ECP,police and government have seen their laws' and rules' importance and implementation related to the elections and have seen that how badly and violently elections' laws and rules were violated and on some polling stations army was called for peace and security.....
Great.
Great step!
For democracy and bright future of the country Generals have made a very wise and sensible decision.
A free and fair election - regardless of the outcome - will benefit Pakistan in the long run. The Army owes it to the people of Pakistan to play a constructive role towards the success of this exercise.
This is really good news. If there can be 5-6 Army personnel in every poling station, it'd be epic. It'll end the culture where ak-47 armed gunmen from different parties send everyone home back from polling stations because these gunmen cast fake votes on behalf on everyone in that area.
Once that culture dies, we'll see first true democracy. A democracy where daily 5-10 dead bodies don't surface like it is in majori cities of country.
Go Go Pakistan!