LAHORE – Armed forces play a crucial role in ensuring security during the electoral process, and fresh platoons of troops started arriving in Lahore, and parts of the country to assist the administration in the conduct of Feb 8 elections.
As the country is set to hold polls this week, police, and paramilitary forces – Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) – were given sensitive tasks to handle security in the second phase while Army personnel will be in third tier force around general polling areas to address any security situations.
With one day left in the polling process, the Punjab Home Department said Army troops started stationing in Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura and in other regions. Forces personnel will be deployed in Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal, and other districts on Wednesday.
Armed forces contingents from Okara garrison, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala Lahore, and Multan garrisons have been sent to other districts.
The deployment of armed forces personnel is not unusual as the army roped in election duty to deter potential violence and instill confidence in voters.
To ensure the polling process smooth and transparent, CCTV cameras have been installed at sensitive polling stations.
Pakistan Army reiterated its commitment to maintaining neutrality and respecting the democratic process.
In country of 25 crore, the general elections are set to be hold on 144 seats of the National Assembly and 297 seats of provincial assembly in Punjab. 128 million voters will exercise their vote to elect the government for next five years.
