August 22 by-polls: Army officials given magisterial powers

Officials are empowered to impose any punishment after summary trial.

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday gave local in-charges of Pakistan Army the powers of the first class magistrate for the August 22 by-elections.

“The Election Commission hereby authorises each designated officer in-charge of the armed forces of an area deployed for providing security inside and outside the polling stations of that area … to exercise the powers of magistrate of first class on the polling day,” says an ECP notification.

Under the powers, the official can send a lawbreaker to jail or impose any other punishment prescribed in the law for the crime committed. These punishments can be awarded on spot after a summary trail.

An ECP official said it was not clear yet as to how many army troops were to be deployed and in how many constituencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2013.