KARACHI: Sindh government and The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have sought deployment of Pakistan Army and Rangers to help police during local government elections in Sindh province, local media reported.
The ECP Sindh chapter has written a letter to the secretary election commission, saying that the deployment of Pakistan Army and Rangers is essential for violence-free elections.
“Even commissioners, DROs along with candidates have asked for deployment of Rangers at polling stations fearing violence between political rivals on Election Day,” the letter mentioned.
Moreover, the Sindh government has also sent a letter to the interior secretary asking him to deploy 9,682 personnel of Rangers during local government elections.
“The personnel needed be deployed at highly sensitive polling stations,” the provincial government said and added that the measure was aimed to hold peaceful elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja had also expressed concern yesterday over incidents of violence in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-167 in a letter to Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz. Polling for by-election on 20 general seats of Punjab Assembly will be held on July 17.
In his letter addressed to Hamza Shehbaz, the CEC criticized the provincial government saying the violent incidents had exposed the weaknesses of the Punjab administration. He asked the CM to improve security for upcoming by-elections in 20 constituencies of the province. He also urged befitting action against the culprits involved in violent incidents.
