Rawalpindi (July 19, 2018): Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Army Elections Support Centre, Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
“COAS was given detailed briefing about the plan for the provision of assistance to ECP for the free, fair and transparent conduct of General Elections 18,” the military’s media wing added.
Gen Qamar directed, the ISPR said, that Army shall assist ECP strictly within the bounds of given mandate and as per ECP Code of conduct”.
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The Army Chief said that working in synchronization with other elements of security apparatus, all efforts be put in to ensure secure and safe environment enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right.
Earlier, a representative of General Headquarters while briefing the Senate Standing Committee said that Pakistan Army has no connection with the General Elections 2018.
He clarified that the army is only working on the directions of the Election Commission to improve the law and order situation in the country.
Earlier, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed by a representative of the General Headquarters (GHQ) that troops were only involved in improving the security situation.
Informing the committee’s meeting, the army’s representative said, “We are only working to improve the security situation on the instructions of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),” adding that troops were liable to follow the electoral body’s code of conduct.
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The GHQ representative further said that the armed forces had always lent support to civil institutions.
Responding to Senator Kulsoom Parveen’s question as to how many troops will be sent to Balochistan, the armed forces’ representative said deployment of troops will be done as required.
Stressing on complying with the ECP’s code of conduct, the army’s representative said the troops also have to perform the police’s duties until the latter’s capabilities improve.
“We took extraordinary measures when polls were held in Afghanistan. Now the Afghan president has assured the prime minister and army chief, over the phone, of cooperation,” they said.
Chairman of the committee, Rehman Malik said on the occasion, that Afghanistan can be used in terror activities during polls.
The GHQ representative also clarified that there was no hindrance in communication with the electoral body.
Earlier today, Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob while giving a briefing to the Senate’s Standing Committee said the Election Commission is responsible for holding free and fair elections and all the other institutions are assisting it.
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