By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government on Tuesday approved the deployment of army and paramilitary forces at polling stations and sensitive areas for the Feb. 8 general elections, amid a wave of militant attacks and a shortage of security staff.
The cabinet, headed by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, endorsed a proposal by the interior ministry to use the army as a quick response force to maintain peace and security during the polls.
“These contingents will perform their duties in sensitive constituencies and polling stations and would also operate as a Rapid Response Force,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
The decision came after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) requested the deployment of the army and other security forces at polling stations, citing a shortfall of 277,558 personnel needed to ensure safe and secure voting nationwide.
The ECP had also highlighted a specific case in Islamabad, where a lack of 4,500 personnel threatened to disrupt the electoral process as the available security staff was 4,500 against a requirement of 9,000.
The commission sought the deployment of army personnel amidst a surge in suspected militant attacks on security personnel and political parties gatherings.
Earlier this month, an independent candidate and a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, the main challenger to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), were killed in separate attacks in the restive northwestern region.
Several other politicians, including a senator and a provincial minister, have also come under attack this month. A convoy of a religious party chief also came under fire.
Last week, Kakar also formed a seven-member committee to oversee the security and administrative arrangements for the polls, and to resolve any issues that may arise.
The committee, headed by caretaker communications minister Shahid Ashraf Tarar, includes the interior secretary, four provincial chief secretaries and any other co-opted member as required.
The committee will review and coordinate the security and administrative arrangements for the elections, issue directions for urgent requirements of additional security where needed, and implement the directions of the ECP, the statement said.
Pakistan has faced several militant attacks and political violence in the run-up to the elections, which will mark the fourth consecutive democratic transition of power in the country’s history since the restoration of democracy in 2008, after decades of military rule.
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