Bi-annual conference: Military reviews polls security plan

Despite assurances, army may not spare as many soldiers as ECP requires.

ISLAMABAD:

Top military officers on Thursday discussed security plans for the upcoming parliamentary elections during their bi-annual conference.

The Formation Commanders’ Conference was chaired by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the forum was given a comprehensive briefing on external and internal security concerns, including professional matters.

“Plans to provide security during May 11 elections, as asked by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), was also discussed and deliberated,” the statement said.

The ECP has requested the army to deploy its troops at sensitive polling stations as part of an effort to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

However, it is not clear as to what extent the army will help electoral authorities in the polling exercise.

The army’s preoccupation with the anti-terror campaign may not allow it to spare the number of soldiers the ECP is seeking for the polling day, a defence source added.

However, a military official said the army would provide ‘all possible assistance’ to the ECP for the smooth holding of elections.

Authorities have already warned that the upcoming elections could be the bloodiest in the country’s history.

Last week, the caretaker interior minister also disclosed that a number of high-profile politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and other leaders were on the hit list of terrorists.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2013.