ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has said that around 4,000,00 police personnel and 3,000,00 Pakistan army soldiers will perform security duties during general elections 2018.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee of Interior which met in Islamabad on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Senator Rehman Malik to discuss security plan and arrangements for elections, the Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said that by and large, a total of 16,000,00 people will be deployed to perform election duties on July 25.
Babar Yaqoob said that there are 20,000 sensitive polling stations in the Country.
The Secretary ECP told that keeping the view the situation in 2013 elections, Pakistan army has been called for upcoming polls. He said that in last general elections one Presiding Officer (PO) was martyred in Balochistan while eight assaults were carried out.
Babar Yaqoob said that the armed forces personnel will perform their duties under Presiding Officers. He said that army will assist in maintaining security and conduct of peaceful elections.
The Secretary said that if anyone tries to steal the ballot box, the army will inform the Returning Officer (RO) and PO. He said that a prescribed procedure will be followed before any further actions.
The Secretary ECP further told the Committee that a Code of Conduct has officially been written.
The meeting was attended by the ECP Officials, Defense, Interior Secretaries and other officials. The Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor also attended the meeting.
In his remarks at the meeting, the director general ISPR said that it is an honour for me to talk at the Senate Standing Committee of Interior. He said that armed forces have always been supporting civil institutions.
The DG ISPR said that army has no direct role in elections. “We are working to maintain law and order situation,” he said.
Senator Rehman Malik Rehman Malik condemned recent terrorist attacks, and said that the Country is facing external and internal threats.
