ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced that it would take an oath from army and police personnel that they would perform their duties honestly and responsible, and within the mandate assigned to them to ensure free, fair and transparent general elections.
The election watchdog has written to the secretaries of interior and defence along with the inspectors general of police of the four provinces and the capital territory in this regard.
According to the ECP’s letter, the returning officers (ROs) will conduct the oath of security in-charges deployed in their respective districts.
Furthermore, the presiding officers will take oath from the personnel deployed at polling stations.
The electoral body said that the security personnel and polling staff are to take the oath in compliance with the Election Act 2017 before assuming their respective charges.
The affidavit, to be signed by the staff, states that the security personnel will perform their duties honestly and responsibly and that the security staff will fully implement the orders of ECP. Furthermore, the security personnel are to perform their duties without any discrimination or fear.
Earlier on July 7, ECP had issued the code of conduct for security personnel deployed for election duties and to be deployed for security on polling day (July 25, 2018) inside and outside the polling stations.
The code of conduct states that the security personnel belonging to law enforcement agencies deployed for election duties shall perform their duties in accordance with the law and within the confines of mandate assigned to armed forces to assist the ECP in conducting free, fair and transparent elections.
