The Federal Interior Ministry has declined to deploy army and rangers’ personnel at polling stations during the elections for the vacant seats of national assembly and provinces. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested the ministry for static deployment of security personnel outside the sensitive and most sensitive polling stations during the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa besides the 64 national assembly’s vacant seats.     In reply to the ECP, the interior ministry made an apology for giving Army, Rangers, and FC personnel for general elections.

The ministry cleared that it was not possible to appoint officials for elections in 64 constituencies and provinces. However, it added that Punjab Rangers will be present in the second circle only for the by-elections of the National Assembly in Rajanpur. The ministry added that security officials are performing their duties on the internal and external borders of the country in view of the rising threat of terrorism.   Moreover, security personnel will be engaged in the digital census from February 27 to April 3 in the country.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP