As the February 8 elections approach, the Ministry of Interior submitted a summary regarding the deployment of armed forces for the upcoming polls. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested 277,000 army personnel to ensure security and maintain law and order across the country, which has 126 million voters set to choose their representatives next month.
The year 2023, marked by a surge in terror-related incidents, has raised concerns about the safety of candidates and voters surrounding the impending elections.
Despite ongoing electioneering efforts by political parties and various violent incidents, including attacks on candidates, doubts persist regarding the overall law and order situation. Some politicians have even sought a delay in the polls, expressing concerns over the security situation.
In a recent tragic incident, independent candidate Kaleemullah Khan, eyeing a contest for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s PK-104, was shot dead in North Waziristan. Shortly thereafter, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Shah Khalid was killed in Swabi by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle.
The security challenges have affected other leaders, including Aslam Buledi of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mohsin Dawar of National Democratic Movement (NDM), Lala Abdul Rasheed of National Party, and Senator Kohda Akram Dashti, who have come under attack this month.
In response to the precarious situation, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has established a high-level committee to oversee security for the upcoming polls. The Pakistan Army has also pledged necessary military assistance for the general elections.
With approval from the caretaker federal cabinet, Pakistan Army soldiers, along with Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, will perform election duties. This decision was made due to a significant shortage of security personnel, particularly in Punjab, the country’s election battleground, facing a shortage of 92,000 security personnel at polling stations.
Additionally, Karachi Police is grappling with a shortage of 14,300 security personnel, including female officers. The collaborative efforts aim to address security concerns and ensure a smooth electoral process in the face of challenging circumstances.
