Army, Rangers personnel to take charge of election security duty from Feb 5
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Personnel of the Pakistan Army and Rangers, who have been tasked with providing security on the election day, will take positions in all districts of the country on February 5, 2024, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
According to the Punjab Home Department, both forces are in touch with the deputy commissioners (DCs) of districts.
On the other hand, the plan has been finalized to provide security in Islamabad on the election day.
Out of 990 polling stations that will be set up in the federal capital, the administration has said 31 are most sensitive while 123 are sensitive and 836 are normal.
Pakistan Army jawans will be deployed at the most sensitive polling stations, while the personnel of police and Rangers will man the polling stations declared sensitive.
On Friday, Sindh Caretaker Minister of Information, Minority Affairs and Social Security Muhammad Ahmad Shah, while addressing a press conference, had said that all the provincial governments, as per the instructions issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), were fully prepared to provide security during the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8.
He informed that as many as 1,22,030 police personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order situation during the elections.
“Rangers and Pakistan Army would also be available for the provision of security,” the minister said, and added that the Pakistan Army would be deployed at sensitive polling stations from February 5 to February 10.
Over 10 days ago, the federal cabinet meeting, presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, while approving the summary submitted by the Ministry of Interior, had unanimously greenlighted the deployment of both the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces during the polls.
It was decided that the army would function as the Red Response Force in sensitive constituencies to ensure a secure and orderly electoral process.
As per the approved summary, 277,000 army officers and personnel will perform security duties on the election day.
It was also decided that Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel will also be deployed to further beef up security
Reporters: Qaiser Khokhar and Tayyab Saif