ECP members to make surprise visits to polling stations as army deploys more troops

Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have decided to make surprise visits at various polling stations in their respective provinces to monitor polling.

The five-member election commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, has equal representation of all four provinces. Members of the commission announced that they would conduct surprise visit on polling stations to ensure smooth functioning of the electoral process.

In a statement, the ECP said that for the first time, people of the country were optimistic about relatively free, fair and transparent elections as ECP had taken several positive steps that had included complete scrutiny of nomination papers filed by contesting candidates and making error-free electoral lists while deleting millions of bogus votes which were used during the last elections.

The statement further said that in the past, almost all elections had been rigged but for the first time, people were satisfied over the steps taken by the ECP.

Meanwhile, on ECP’s request, Pakistan Army deployed more troops at sensitive polling stations to perform security duties on elections day. Earlier, it was decided between the ECP and the army 70,000 army men would remain as a back-up of law enforcement agencies as Quick Response Force. However, some troops formally deployed at most sensitive polling stations across the country.

It is relevant to note here that on Thursday, the CEC, through a letter, had urged Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani for deployment of army personnel at the most sensitive polling stations. A source in ISPR on Friday said that following the CEC request, troops had been deployed across the country at most sensitive polling stations.