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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security personnel will not be available for election duties due to deteriorating law and order situation in the nation.
In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan was informed by the Ministry of Defense that border security is of greatest concern to the military due to the second-highest increase in terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2022.
To discuss security for the general election in the most populous region, the country’s electoral watchdog met representatives from Punjab as well as the secretary and additional secretary of the federal defense ministry several times.
The ceremony was attended by the ECP secretary, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, and other participants. In the key meeting with the defense secretaries, Lieutenant Gen. (ret.) Hamooduz Zaman Khan and Khurram Sarfaraz Khan, officials discussed the law and order situation and security issues related to election.
The defense secretary informed CEC and other ECP officials that the main responsibilities of the army were to maintain peace and order and protect the border. He went on to say that the current economic crisis has had an impact on police forces.
The defense secretary said that under the current circumstances, it would be up to the government to decide whether to use security personnel for ancillary activities or limit their use to carry out their primary duty.
The Punjab chief secretary and police chief recently informed the election watchdog that the provincial government would not be able to provide security for the local legislature election on April 30.