Punjab by-polls under army’s supervision

ISLAMABAD: The election authorities have decided to deploy army and paramilitary troops during next month’s by-polls for three National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats in Punjab.

On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wrote separate letters to the secretaries of interior and defence ministries asking them to spare soldiers for maintaining law and order during the by-elections.

Polling is scheduled for October 11 on NA-122 in Lahore, NA-144 in Okara, NA-154 in Lodhran and PP-147 Lahore and for October 6 on PP-16 in Attock.

A statement issued by the ECP’s media wing said the commission has, in view of the volatile law and order situation in the country and the demands of Punjab election commissioner, returning officers and political parties, decided to deploy Punjab Rangers/Pakistan Army personnel in the by-elections in Punjab.

The ECP has asked the secretaries of interior and defence ministries to provide a sufficient number of Punjab Rangers and Pakistan Army soldiers for ensuring security at the polling stations.

During a meeting at the ECP headquarters last week, the Punjab police chief had expressed apprehensions about security in these constituencies, where a close contest is expected between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The PTI chief had also appealed to the election body to deploy army troops at the polling stations.

ECP officials said the number of troops to be deployed would be decided in consultation with local administrations depending on the sensitivity of the polling stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.