Soldiers from the Pakistan Army have begun arriving in major cities across the country in preparation for the upcoming general elections on February 8. This deployment aims to ensure the peaceful and secure conduct of the polls.
According to the Punjab Home Department, troops have already been stationed in Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura. By tomorrow, additional reinforcements will reach districts like Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Sargodha.
The armed troops have been deployed from Lahore, Multan, Okara, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala Garrisons.
The Punjab Home Department emphasized that maintaining law and order during the elections is their top priority. They assure that all districts are in close collaboration with the army to ensure a smooth and secure election process.
Furthermore, the department is actively monitoring election arrangements across the province. This includes the installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations to further enhance security and transparency.
The military forces are being deployed in the aid of the civil government to ensure transparency of the election process, peace and order. 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.
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.
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.
Punjab election data
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 is 14,573 and 14,059 for women.
