The Interior Ministry issued a report to the caretaker federal cabinet on Tuesday, requesting their consent to deploy 277,000 Pakistan Army soldiers in the upcoming elections as the nation approaches the polls on February 8.
The summary from the ministry in response to the request for security personnel from the electoral authority because of worries about maintaining law and order during the next general elections.
With 2023 ending as the worst year for terror-related occurrences since 2015, Pakistan is experiencing a major increase in terrorist assaults. As a result, attacks and violent incidents targeting political leaders and candidates have clouded the results of the polls.
Political parties have continued their electioneering attempts to win over voters in spite of a number of violent incidents and attacks on candidates. However, a number of lawmakers have expressed concerns about the state of law and order, with some even asking the Senate to request a poll delay in this respect.
Kaleemullah Khan, an independent candidate seeking to run in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s PK-104 seat, was shot and killed earlier this month in North Waziristan.
Shah Khalid of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was also slain in Swabi a few hours later when unknown attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on his vehicle.
Aslam Buledi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mohsin Dawar of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Lala Abdul Rasheed of the National Party, and Senator Kohda Akram Dashti of the National Party have all faced criticism this month.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has established a high-level committee to supervise election security due to the unstable environment.
In the meantime, the Pakistan Army has promised to offer the essential military support for the approaching general elections.
It is important to note that soldiers from the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and Frontier Constabulary (FC) would conduct electoral duties when the interim federal cabinet has approved the Interior Ministry’s brief.
A severe lack of security personnel had previously led officials to decide to enlist the army’s assistance in conducting polling.
The nation’s election hotspot, Punjab, is lacking 92,000 security guards at polling places.
In the meantime, there is a 14,300 manpower gap at the Karachi Police, including female officers.
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