The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided that necessary arrangements for providing security for holding the by elections will be made by Pakistan Army/Rangers (by deployment inside and outside polling stations) to assist the ECP to conduct elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
According to ECP, the decision has been taken in view of the requests made by the Returning Officers, endorsed by the concerned District Returning Officer and Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab.
A press release by the ECP Thursday said the Personnel of Pakistan Army/Rangers may start patrolling/flag-march in the Constituencies No. NA-144, Okara-II, NA-122 Lahore-V, PP-147 Lahore-XI and PP-16 Attock-II before, on and after the said by-election till midnight following the consolidation of results by the Returning Officer.
Pakistan Army/Rangers Personnel will also be deployed a day before the poll on every polling station of the said constituency to assist the polling staff to conduct elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Further, each Presiding Officer, appointed in connection with by-election to be held on 6th and 11th October, 2015 has been entrusted with the powers of a magistrate First Class to be exercised by him within the precincts of his polling station.
The Officer in-charge of Pakistan Army/Rangers/JCOs deployed in the constituency have also been delegated with special powers of a magistrate First Class by the EC to be exercised by them on the day of poll.