Central leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen on Tuesday stated that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has held out assurance for free and fair by-elections in Karachi on April 23.
The PTI General Secretary said this while speaking to reporters after meeting CEC, Sardar Raza Khan, at Election Commission building in Islamabad.
“PTI had called for army’s deployment but now we have been assured that Rangers will perform duties inside and outside polling stations in NA-246 constituency,” the PTI leader said, elaborating on his meeting with election commission chief.
He expressed his satisfaction over security duties assigned to paramilitary Rangers for the by-polls going to be held in Karachi amid tension between political parties.
“We are satisfied with Rangers security and hope that they will effectively perform duties since they have been given magisterial powers. Election commission has assured that Rangers will remain deployed at polling stations till vote count is complete. They will supervise the counting process,” he said.
To review security arrangements in Karachi, the PTI leader said, ECP Secretary has assured to hold a meeting with Director General Rangers in Karachi in a couple of days. “This is welcoming,” he said.
Tareen further said he also took up matters of electronic voting, right of vote for oversees Pakistanis and autonomy of the commission in his meeting with the CEC. “The commission needs more independency and strength. It should be free in its funding and administrative affairs,” he said.