Army to deploy 70,000 troops for election security: DG ISPR

Published May 2, 2013
DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa.— Photo by Reuters/File
DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa.— Photo by Reuters/File

RAWALPINDI: Director General of Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Thursday that at least 70,000 Armed forces personnel of would be deployed in the four provinces for election security, DawnNews reported.

Maj Gen Asim Bajwa made the announcement during a press conference held at the Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi adding that the military would ensure security on the polling day and a security monitoring cell would be established at the GHQ in this regards.

DG ISPR further said that Rangers operations in Karachi to continue in order to ensure security, whereas Rangers, FC and police would guard people at the polling stations.

Moreover Army aviation would also provide air cover using 50 helicopters across the country on May 11.

Apart from these troops, thousands of other personnel would be on stand-by as part of quick response forces in case any security situation arises.

Deployment in Balochistan province was complete whereas troops were to be deployed in Khyber Pakhtubnkhwa, Karachi and other parts of Sindh and Punjab in the coming days.

Army would also provide the logistics for taking the ballot papers from the printing press to the polling stations and handing over the District Returning Officers (DRO)s.

Military troops were also already deployed in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to provide security for the printing of ballot papers which started from April 19.

The government has requested the deployment of troops under Article 248 of the Constitution in the wake of worsening slaw and orders in the country.

Opinion

Editorial

Closed doors
Updated 08 Jan, 2025

Closed doors

The nation’s fate has been decided through secret deals for too long, with the result that the citizenry has become increasingly alienated from the state.
Debt burden
08 Jan, 2025

Debt burden

THE federal government’s total debt stock soared by above 11pc year-over-year to Rs70.4tr at the end of November,...
GB power crisis
08 Jan, 2025

GB power crisis

MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels —...
Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

The global eradication of polio is within reach and Pakistan has no excuse to remain an outlier.