The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally requested the deployment of the army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to ensure security at polling stations during the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8 next year.
The ECP Secretary, Omar Hamid Khan, highlighted a critical shortage of 277,558 police personnel nationwide, underscoring the need for additional security measures. In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Interior, Secretary Khan expressed concerns over the “fragile security cum law and order situation prevalent in the country.”
To address the shortfall in security personnel, the ECP has called for the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces (CAFs) to be deployed in both static and quick response force (QRF) modes. The move aims to guarantee the smooth conduct of elections and mitigate potential security risks.
Secretary Khan emphasized the ECP’s commitment to organizing elections in accordance with the Constitution and relevant election laws. Simultaneously, he urged executive authorities and law enforcement agencies to demonstrate a similar level of commitment in maintaining law and order within the constituencies during the election period.
The deployment of the army and LEAs in static and QRF modes is expected to bolster security measures at polling stations and address the apparent shortfall in police personnel. As the nation gears up for the upcoming elections, the cooperation between the Election Commission and security forces becomes crucial to ensuring a secure and democratic electoral process.
