With an aim to ensure free, fair and peaceful general elections in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, jawans of the Pakistan Army will take control of at least 5,500 highly sensitive polling stations from May 8, 2013, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The army has been called by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Section 255 sub-section (I) (II) in order to ensure the upcoming elections are free, fair, transparent and conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, said Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Ijaz Chaudhry.
The Ministry of Defence has approved the proposal and dispatched more than 70,000 army jawans to all four provinces.
“At least 5,500 polling stations in the province have been declared highly sensitive, a majority of which are in Karachi. The army would take control of these polling stations by May 8 and will be responsible for carrying and returning of ballot papers under its supervision,” the chief secretary added.
Reliable sources told Pakistan Today that the army jawans had been put at the disposal of the Sindh government and they could by called up on demand of the returning officer or the district administration.
Sources said at least seven troops would be deputed at highly sensitive polling stations while four troops along with a police constable will guard sensitive polling stations. A strike force comprising army jawans and rangers would also be set up that will work as a quick force to thwart any untoward incident, they added.
Moreover, at least four police constables will be deputed at normal polling stations for safety and security of voters on polling day, they said, adding that the entire polling process will be recorded through close-circuit cameras which will be installed when army takes control of the polling stations.
When contacted Humayun Muhammad Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate for PS-89, termed the army’s deputation in the city a good omen for elections which, he said, would encourage paranoid voters to come out on May 11 and use their right of self determination.
“Inside or outside polling stations, army should be deployed in the city’s polling stations along with increased patrolling,” said Humayun who also condemned Friday’s attack on an Awami National Party (ANP) candidate.
The PML-N leader, a former MPA from the same constituency, also hoped that the move would ensure transparency on the day of polling by keeping a check on rigging.
Asif Khan, another PML-N leader from Keamari, said army’s arrival would be helpful in guarding sensitive polling stations in PS-89 areas like Machar Colony, Sultanabad and Okai Colony.
Also welcoming the army in Karachi, Bahsir Jan of ANP was unclear on what the troops’ nature of deployment would be. “Army, which I think is on the way (to Karachi), would certainly make a difference in the law and order here,” he viewed.
Its effectiveness, however, was linked to the deployment pattern, he said. “The law and order in Karachi is worse than Waziristan today,” he said adding that mostly innocent people were being punished in attacks that were the handiwork of “terrorists and extremists” and were not politically motivated.
“The armed forces have to control it because we don’t have a force to deal with terrorists who neither recognise our constitution nor Pakistan,” the ANP leader said.
Asked if he thought use of force could really deliver in dealing with the never-ending ideological war, Jan said, “This could happen only when the government and the civil society remain on the same page.”
The ANP leader, who often wears a bullet-proof jacket after surviving two recent attempts on his life, lamented on discrepancies that he said had led to the emergence of terms like “good” and “bad” Taliban.
“This makes the situation more complicated for us,” he said.
Asked if he supported negotiations with Taliban, Jan said table talks were the only ultimate solution to wars. “But who should we talk to. There is no single office, organisation or leadership here. There is Mangal Bagh, there is Wali Rehman and a lot of other militant factions,” he said.