ECP rules out troops inside polling stations

Poll body says security will be bolstered for next phases.

ISLAMABAD:

Election authorities on Wednesday vowed to correct shortcomings of the first phase of local government (LG) elections in Punjab and Sindh, and decided to enhance security for the next phases of the polls.

However, it ruled out the deployment of army troops inside polling stations which had been demanded by some opposition parties.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss problems faced during the first phase of LG elections in Punjab and Sindh, and to review arrangements for the second phase of the polls in both the provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Keeping in view the violent incidents during first phase of the polls, the meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan decided to augment security in the next phases of the elections.

An official privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune that the meeting also discussed some parties’ demand of deploying army troops inside polling stations. However, the ECP ruled out the move saying it would not be possible for the armed forces to spare troops for each polling station, thousands of which will be set up for the LG polls.

The commission, instead, decided to request the army and Rangers to enhance their presence around polling stations deemed as ‘sensitive’. Additional police officials will also be deployed at such polling stations.

Meanwhile, the additional secretary (admin) of the ECP briefed participants of the meeting on the printing of ballot papers, transport of election material from the first phase of the polls and preparations for the second phase.

It was pointed out that returning officers (ROs) in some constituencies could not compile proper lists of final participants and their symbols due to lack of experience. This resulted in printing errors in such areas.

The commission asked its district staff to work with ROs in finalising the lists of contestants so that accurate ballot papers could be printed for the next phases.

Schedule for NA-154 by-polls likely

ECP, in a day or two, will issue a fresh schedule for by-elections in NA-154, another constituency where tough competition is expected between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The seat fell vacant again on October 28 after the Supreme Court ordered a re-poll in the constituency.

However, the top court partially set aside the decision of a post-election tribunal to impose a lifetime ban on PML-N lawmaker Siddique Khan Baloch.

PTI General Secretary Jahangir Tareen had challenged Baloch’s victory in the 2013 general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.