The Ministry of Defense declined to provide security for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab Assembly elections and the by-elections of 93 constituencies of the National Assembly.
The reaction of the Ministry of Defense came after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had asked the Ministry of Interior to help the armed forces to provide security cover during the elections.
In its letter to the Home Ministry, the Defense Ministry apologized that it could not provide static deployment of Rangers and Frontier Corps for the upcoming by-elections as, according to them, deployment of the armed forces was not possible.
The Ministry of Defense informed the Home Secretary that the armed forces and civil armed forces are currently engaged in border management and internal security management.
The ministry said that threats of terrorism are increasing in the country. Moreover, the armed forces will be engaged in the census process from February 27 to April 3 this year.
However, Punjab Rangers will be available as a quick response force during these elections.
On the other hand, while replying to the ECP’s letter, the Finance Ministry has asked the Election Conducting Authority to postpone the demand for additional grant in the larger national interest.
The Finance Ministry requested the Election Commission to postpone the grant request until the country’s economic situation improves.
Punjab, KP IGs on security challenges during elections
Over the past few days, top police officers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have apprised the ECP of the difficult task of security during the upcoming elections following the dissolution of both provincial assemblies.
“It cannot be assumed that the next elections will be completely peaceful,” Inspector General of KP Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said in a meeting held regarding the elections in the province presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The IG said that there was a shortage of 57,000 policemen for security during polling. He said that even after getting the services of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan police, the shortage of personnel cannot be met.
Ansari further said that the help of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps will be required.
The provincial police chief also shared data on attacks on law enforcers in KP. “There were 494 attacks on the police in 2022, while 119 policemen were martyred,” he said, adding that in 2023, there were 46 attacks on law enforcement agencies, resulting in 93 policemen losing their lives. sitting
Meanwhile, Punjab IG Dr Usman Anwar also briefed CEC Raja during a meeting at the ECP about the challenges of conducting elections amid the growing threat of terrorism in the province.
The ongoing police operation in the rural areas of South Punjab and other districts of the province will be completed in four to five months. Until the operation is over, it will be a difficult task to hold elections,” he said, highlighting the growing threat of terrorism in Punjab.
A senior Punjab Police officer told the meeting participants that 412,852 police personnel are required for security during polling. However, the number of police personnel in Punjab is 115000. An additional 300,000 troops would be needed to cover the shortfall. The services of Pakistan Army and Rangers will be required to meet this shortfall.
IG Anwar also said that since December 2022, 213 terror incidents have been prevented due to early notification. He further said that there are reports of the agency about the incidents of terrorism in almost all the districts of the province.
