Free and fair elections depend on security situation: CEC

Maintaining law and order is not under the Election Commission's control, says Ebrahim.

ISLAMABAD: We can guarantee free and fair elections if the government can ensure security, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said on Thursday, Express News reported.

Ebrahim made this statement while presiding over a session held to review election-related issues.

He further said that maintaining law and order was not under the Election Commission's control.

The ECP has recently taken various steps to ensure foolproof security on general election day.

Various political parties have come under terror attack following the announcement of election date, with left-wing parties being the main target. Members of these parties have criticised the ECP for not ensuring security of political activists, raising concerns over the possibility of free and fair elections.

Security measures

Around 600,000 security personnel will be deployed during the general election, ECP Media Director Khurshid Alam said.

He further added that the election commission has set up more than 73,000 polling stations, with 20,000 earmarked as "sensitive or most sensitive.”

Alam said the number of "sensitive" locations could be increased.

"The army has promised to provide 50,000 troops for election day security," he said, adding that the number may be increased if deemed necessary.

"They will be part of a total deployment of over 600,000 security personnel and members of the other law enforcement agencies like police, paramilitary rangers, tribal police and national volunteers," he said.

Five security personnel will be stationed at each polling station, and seven to 10 at sensitive and most sensitive polling stations, Alam said.

Most attacks during the campaign have been claimed by the Taliban, which has branded democracy "un-Islamic" and a system for infidels.