ECP seeks Army’s help in by-elections as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent a letter to the COAS Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday.
He has asked for full security assistance for the conduct of by-elections and local government elections in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has sent a letter to the army chief requesting security coverage for the first and second phases of the Sindh local government elections on June 25 and July 24, respectively.
Military security has also been requested for the critical by-elections to be held on July 17 in 20 electorates of the Punjab Assembly, for the by-election in PK-7, Swat-VI on June 26 and for the by-election in NA 245, Karachi East-IV on July 27.
This development was put into action after the violence in NA 240 by-poll in Karachi last week that claimed one life while clashes were reported from Lahore between the workers of PTI and PML-N ahead of by-polls.
According to sources, the Chief Election Commissioner wrote that the ECP was proud of the Pakistan Army’s support in providing a secure and safe environment throughout the conduct of general elections, by-elections, and municipal elections whenever the Election Commission requested such assistance.
According to reports, he stated that the recently held local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (phases I and II) and Baluchistan are evidence that army formations maintained law and order in vulnerable areas in an outstanding manner.
The Election Commission, he noted, expects the same level of support for the conduct of these electoral processes regardless of the situation. ECP seeks Army’s help in by-elections.
It is essential to emphasise that certain situations beyond the control of civil law-enforcement agencies will necessitate a more proactive and enhanced role of the army, at times necessitating the saving of citizens’ lives and limbs.
The CEC noted that according to Article 220, all executive authorities are obligated to help the Election Commission and the CEC in carrying out their tasks.
The CEC also penned a letter to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, regarding the forthcoming elections in his province. PML-N government says that they have nigger challengs then corruption.
The letter stated that the ECP expects the same commitment from the executive authorities for maintaining law and order in the area of constituency during the conduct of elections, particularly in areas with a history of political conflict or violence.
