Pakistan

Army, Rangers to be deployed for Punjab by-polls: ECP

Security personnel will be deployed in NA-122 Lahore, NA-144 Okara, NA-154 Lodhran, PP-147 Lahore and PP-16 Attock

Our Correspondent September 28, 2015

PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Monday to deploy Pakistan Army soldiers and Punjab Rangers officials during the upcoming by-polls in Punjab.

Army and Rangers personnel will be deployed in the constituencies of NA-122 Lahore, NA-144 Okara, NA-154 Lodhran, PP-147 Lahore and PP-16 Attock, a press release stated.

Read: ECP considering deploying smartphones during by-polls

The country’s top electoral body has written letters to secretary interior and secretary defence asking them to issue necessary directions for the deployment of sufficient strength of the army and Rangers personnel for the by-polls.

Further, the ECP asked parliamentarians to submit their yearly statements of assets by the end of the current month.

The coveted NA-122, Lahore, seat fell vacant after an election tribunal in its verdict on August 22 found irregularities in the 2013 general elections, ultimately causing Sadiq, the former National Assembly speaker, to step down.

Read: LHC nullifies ECP ban on parliamentarians from by-poll campaigning

Similarly, the NA-154, Lodhran seat was vacated after the disqualification of PML-N’s MNA Siddique Baloch on a petition filed by PTI’s Jehangir Tareen over alleged rigging in the general elections.

COMMENTS (2)

IBN E ASHFAQUE | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan army is now doing work of the election commission in Punjab, Karachi Police, Judiciary and also developing residential plots via DHA and making Fauji Cereals for breakfast as well as Askari Bank........Fighting terrorists in FATA and Karachi........It is indeed the most incredible army in the world...... I was just thinking why don't we make the whole country a cantonment? then we all can have clean roads and electricity and law and order like they have in the cantonments?????

Shakil Ahmed Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Let the free and fair elections start! this will bring an end to status quo power grabbers who rigg and manage the elections as "irregularity"

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