Safeguarding elections: Army approves plan of providing security
Corps commanders agree in unison to assist ECP in maintaining order on May 11.
A file photo of an army personnel. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The army on Wednesday gave a final approval to its plan of providing security to Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure free, fair and peaceful general elections on May 11 - the day of polling.
The plan was approved by army corps commanders who met at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to review the internal security situation with prime focus on forthcoming elections. The meeting was chaired by Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
Although nothing was revealed about the closed-door discussions, sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that all top commanders agreed to ECP’s request for providing security on May 11.
The final plan, which includes the number of soldiers that will be deployed across all sensitive polling stations, will be made public after another round of talks between military and electoral authorities, the sources added.
Senior army and ECP officials have already met twice over the past few days to work out the security details for the day of voting.
A military official said another meeting is scheduled for this week where the final plan would be announced.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the army would provide “all possible” help to ECP.
ECP had sought the army’s help in the wake of reports that militant groups could potentially disrupt the election process.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.
The army on Wednesday gave a final approval to its plan of providing security to Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure free, fair and peaceful general elections on May 11 - the day of polling.
The plan was approved by army corps commanders who met at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to review the internal security situation with prime focus on forthcoming elections. The meeting was chaired by Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
Although nothing was revealed about the closed-door discussions, sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that all top commanders agreed to ECP’s request for providing security on May 11.
The final plan, which includes the number of soldiers that will be deployed across all sensitive polling stations, will be made public after another round of talks between military and electoral authorities, the sources added.
Senior army and ECP officials have already met twice over the past few days to work out the security details for the day of voting.
A military official said another meeting is scheduled for this week where the final plan would be announced.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the army would provide “all possible” help to ECP.
ECP had sought the army’s help in the wake of reports that militant groups could potentially disrupt the election process.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.