The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Thursday to conduct by-election in Karachi’s NA-246, Azizabad, constituency under the supervision of Rangers.
ECP spokesperson Khurshid Alam said that Rangers personnel would be deployed inside and outside the polling stations on election day. He said that the Rangers deployed at the polling stations would be authorised by a first class magistrate to officially monitor and assure smooth conduct of the election process on April 23.
Earlier, the Sindh election commissioner had demanded Rangers deployment in the NA-246 constituency with immediate effect till the completion of polling process on April 23 amid fears of violence considering the tense situation prevailing in Azizabad between two of the contesting parties.
The NA-246 constituency was left vacant last month after then Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Nabeel Gabol resigned from his seat.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had repeatedly demanded Rangers deployment, showing concerns over security situation and transparent election without the Rangers presence.
Kunwar Naveed Jameel, the MQM candidate from the constituency, had recently told the media that his party would not have any objection to the deployment of troops for fair and free elections.
However, the Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed concern over the deployment of local government employees as polling staff as most of were allegedly associated with a particular party.