The by-elections in NA-122 and PP 147 were conducted under the supervision of army with voters, polling agents and presiding officers hailing the decision as they believed this would bring credibility to the polling process.
More than 5,000 policemen and 2,915 army troops were deployed across the constituency to ensure trouble-free polling.
Army officials were posted inside the polling stations, while the police personnel were deployed outside. Army officials were vigilant and performed their duties effectively, a survey conducted by Pakistan Today while visiting different polling stations of the constituency showed.
Ali Shah, who cast his vote for PTI in Govt. Muslim League High School, Empress Road, dispelled any possibility of rigging and said that it was impossible for the government to rig the elections in these circumstances. He said that he would accept the election result whatever it might be and would not take part in agitation if his party did not win the election.
An army officer told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity that army was deputed in last general elections only to provide security but in these elections they had been mandated to ensure that no rigging took place.
PML-N Joint Secretary from PP-147 Muhammad Rafi said that PTI must throw its allegations of rigging into a dustbin and must accept the election results because there was no chance of rigging while the polls were being conducted under the supervision of army personnel.
“The army was deputed according to the wishes of PTI and therefore, they must accept PML-N victory. The lion will roar after the ballots are in,” he said.
The presiding officer deputed at Govt. Kinnaird High School near Railway Station told Pakistan Today that the practice of conducting elections in army’s supervision was laudable because no one could rig the election under this arrangement.
Khurram Shehzad, a resident of Mughalpura who cast his vote for PTI said that everyone had faith in the army because of their discipline and patriotism. He added that voters’ mandate could not be stolen in army’s supervision.
All the officials of army were called from the IV Corps of Pakistan Army. They were responsible for transporting the election related paraphernalia and for distributing it to the polling staff one day before the polling under their supervision.
Govt. Islamia High School Khazana Gate which had been awarded the status of camp office for NA-122 by ECP was guarded by the army and rangers for three days before the polling day. Final result of the election was going to be announced from the same venue.
