Pakistan Army and the Election Commission will hold a meeting soon to decide on deploying troops for holding the upcoming general election in May in a peaceful and orderly manner.
‘We have assured the Election Commission of Pakistan that we will provide all possible support for security,’ said Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the head of the Inter-Services Public Relations. The Election Commission has held a meeting with army officials and another meeting would be arranged shortly to discuss the deployment of troops for security duties.
The poll panel will let the army know which polling stations are ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’ and require special security arrangements so that voters can exercise their rights in a peaceful manner, Bajwa told The News daily. ‘After that, it will be easy for the army to chalk out the needed security plan,’ he said. If desired by the Election Commission, soldiers will be detailed to provide security for transporting ballot papers to different areas, he said.
The current Pakistan government is set to complete its five-year term on 16 March and polls are expected to be held later in May this year.
‘We have assured the Election Commission of Pakistan that we will provide all possible support for security,’ said Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the head of the Inter-Services Public Relations. The Election Commission has held a meeting with army officials and another meeting would be arranged shortly to discuss the deployment of troops for security duties.
The poll panel will let the army know which polling stations are ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’ and require special security arrangements so that voters can exercise their rights in a peaceful manner, Bajwa told The News daily. ‘After that, it will be easy for the army to chalk out the needed security plan,’ he said. If desired by the Election Commission, soldiers will be detailed to provide security for transporting ballot papers to different areas, he said.
The current Pakistan government is set to complete its five-year term on 16 March and polls are expected to be held later in May this year.