Army troops on the move for election duty
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Pakistan Army troops started arriving in major cities across Punjab to ensure peaceful and secure polling process for the general elections on February 8, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
According to Punjab Home Department, troops were already stationed in Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura.
And additional reinforcements will reach districts like Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal, Jhelum and Sargodha tomorrow.
The armed troops were deployed from Lahore, Multan, Okara, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala Garrisons.
The military personnel will be deployed outside polling stations as part of the third tier for security. Police will provide first-tier security, and civil armed forces second tier during polling on Thursday.
The Punjab Home Department emphasized that maintaining law and order during the elections was their top priority. The Home Department will assure that all districts were in close collaboration with the army to ensure a smooth and secure election process.
The military forces were being deployed in the aid of the civil government to ensure transparency in the election process.
This deployment of the Pakistan Army is not uncommon in previous elections. The military's presence often aims to deter potential violence and instill confidence in voters. However, some raise concerns about potential militarization of the electoral process.
Furthermore, the department was actively monitoring election arrangements across the province. This includes the installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations to further enhance security and transparency.
It's important to note that the Pakistan Army has stated its commitment to maintaining neutrality and respecting the democratic process. The focus remains on facilitating a peaceful and fair election accessible to all eligible voters.
On February 8, elections will be held on 144 seats of the National Assembly and 297 seats of provincial assembly in Punjab.
The total number of registered voters in Punjab is 74.2 million, out of which 34.6 million are women and 39.6 million are men.
The total number of polling stations in Punjab is 50,900 and the number of male polling stations was 14,573 and 14,059 for women.
Reporter Ahmed Mansoor