Fearing violence on the polling day, many political parties have sought deployment of army troops at sensitive polling stations across the country to maintain order. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
With just under two weeks to go before the historic parliamentary elections, the military brass approved a troop deployment plan on Monday to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections on May 11.
Chaired by Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a special meeting of corps commanders held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi reviewed security arrangements for the elections, says a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“All issues pertaining to deployment of troops, according to earlier discussions with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and the federal and provincial governments were discussed during the meeting and a deployment plan was finalised,” reads the statement.
Fearing violence on the polling day, many political parties have sought deployment of army troops at sensitive polling stations across the country to maintain order. The run-up to election has been bloody thus far as militants have mounted deadly attacks on politicians and their supporters across the country.
The three major partners in the previous ruling coalition – the Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – are bearing the brunt of violence perpetrated by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Over 50 people have already died in pre-poll violence since the beginning of this month. Most of the violence took place in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the country’s financial hub Karachi. Keeping in view the deteriorating security situation, the army and paramilitary Frontier Corps are poised for a ‘surgical operation’ in Balochistan to create a safe environment for voters and candidates. Talking to The Express Tribune, a security official has said that the military authorities were making all-out efforts to assist civil law-enforcement agencies to pre-empt any untoward incident.
However, the official feared that militants could step up their attacks in an attempt to discourage the electorate from exercising their right of adult franchise.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ