CEC terms military deployment ‘necessary’ in Punjab by-polls

Secretary ECP pledges to take indiscriminate action against those creating unrest

July 16, 2022

Secretary CEC says any attempts to create unrest will be dealt with indiscriminately. PHOTO: FILE

Islamabad:

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on Saturday made the deployment of Pakistan Army troops mandatory in Punjab by-elections as polls are scheduled to be held in the province today.

In a statement, the CEC stressed that the deployment of military personnel was necessary to protect voters and asked the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to set up a camp office in Lahore to oversee security and election arrangements. directed by

ECP Secretary Umar Hameed Khan later reached the provincial capital and set up camp as per instructions.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has decided to deploy 2,000 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in view of the law and order situation during the elections on the request of the High Election Authority.

According to Umar Hameed Khan, this decision has been taken in view of the possibility of clashes between political opponents. He said that any attempt to create disturbance would not be tolerated, indiscriminate action would be taken against the miscreants.

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Khan said that the ECP has the full support of state institutions and has been assured of better arrangements and tight security.

Secretary ECP urged the people to come out of their homes fearlessly on polling day and exercise their right to vote.

A day earlier, the election watchdog had directed political parties to abide by the law and restrain themselves so that the polls could be held peacefully and warned that violators would be prosecuted. will Meanwhile, the Army has said it has probed the most sensitive locations in the respective areas as tertiary responders for any law and order situation.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the activity was carried out in accordance with the ECP's instructions for today's by-elections.

The army's media wing further said that the troops would perform quick reaction force duties in case of any law and order situation during the elections.