Rawalpindi (July 21, 2018): The Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) has requisitioned Pak Armed forces to assist them in holding free, fair and transparent conduct of elections 2018, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“ECP has requisitioned Pak Armed Forces under Article 220 and 245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair and transparent conduct of Elections 2018,” DG ISPR Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted.
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He said,”Shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe and secure environment.”
ECP has requisitioned Pak Armed Forces under Article 220&245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair & transparent conduct of Elections2018. Shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe & secure environment. pic.twitter.com/nC2MMKSKRG
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) July 21, 2018
Pakistan will hold the general elections on July 25 amid heightened security. Troops will be deployed inside and outside the polling stations.
Earlier former Senate chairman and PPP stalwart Raza Rabbani on Saturday thundered at the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) “criminal silence” over perceived irregularities in the run-up to the polls, warning of “dire consequences” for the government if the elections are “engineered”.
Senator Rabbani, while addressing the Upper House, raised questions over the role of the armed forces in the polling process, saying that the ECP had not defined a code of conduct or terms of reference to govern the deployment of the army on polling day.
“At first, the ECP kept saying that soldiers would be deployed outside polling stations. Now it’s saying they will be also be deployed inside. What is the reason for their being stationed inside?” he asked. “The ECP should tell us why they eventually decided to deploy soldiers within polling stations. And if they will be inside, what will their function be?” he wondered.
He drew the Senate’s attention towards restrictions being placed on the media by disruptions to the circulation of certain newspapers and instructions to television channels not to air certain programmes.
Earlier on July 10, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asif Ghafoor had said that this was the third consecutive election, which will ensure the democratic process.
Addressing an important presser in Rawalpindi today, DG ISPR said:”I am constantly asked whether elections will be held or not but Pakistan is heading towards the general election.”
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Posted by Abbtakk on Tuesday, July 10, 2018
DG ISPR further added this is not the first time that troops will be deployed to overlook the election process.
Regarding overlooking the process of the printing of ballot papers, DG ISPR clarified, “We only have to transport the ballot papers in a secure manner and will not be involved in anything else.”
“We will not take over the printing material, the ECP staff will handle that,” he asserted.
“In Rawalpindi we have established an army election support centre to coordinate and if needed communicate with ECP,” the DG ISPR said.
Maj-Gen Ghafoor further revealed that the ECP has issued a code of conduct for the military. “We are bound to implement a code of conduct issued by the ECP when executing our duties,” he said.
“Our top priority is to maintain peace and security in the country,” he upheld.
“We will carry out our duties in a non-political and impartial manner without any interference in the election process,” the DG ISPR maintained.
Further, the DG ISPR shared that the ECP has made a system through which pictures will be taken and transmitted to returning officers to ensure that when the votes are counted they are neither less nor more.
Major General Ghafoor also requested the media to not question the troops deployed at polling stations.
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Posted by Abbtakk on Tuesday, July 10, 2018
DG ISPR said that “I’d like to request media persons to refrain from approaching troops deployed at the stations”.
Major General Asif Ghafoor while rejecting political affiliatino said that we do not have any political party or alignment and are working only for the country.”
The military spokesperson further said, “3,71,000 personnel will be deployed on election day with two soldiers inside each polling station and two outside.”
“A total 20,831 polling stations have been declared sensitive,” he said.
The DG ISPR also urged the nation to come out and vote.
“No matter who you support, come out and vote for them,” he said while adding that he hopes the voter turnout will increase.
Responding to a question regarding allegations that although polling may be transparent there are measures being taken to ensure it’s not a “level playing field,” the DG ISPR said, “Has there ever been an election in which at least one political party hasn’t alleged rigging?”
Regarding candidates being ‘forced’ to switch parties, the military spokesperson questioned, “Has there ever been an election in which candidates haven’t jumped ship?”
“Armed forces in the last 15 years has fulfilled its duties.”
“In 2013, there was a different environment and terrorists threatened to not allow politicians to campaign,” he said.
Further, the DG ISPR said, “Neither me nor our field commanders give their opinions on a daily basis but talk shows are held everyday from 7:00pm onwards where people share their opinions and say whatever they wish.”
“106 million Pakistanis will vote but is it possible for us to go to every citizen and tell them who to vote for?” he asked while answering a question regarding political engineering.
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