Defence ministry turns down interior ministry’s request to provide security during elections
The Ministry of Defence declined to offer protection for the with the aid of-elections in ninety three constituencies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and the countrywide assemblies. At the identical time, the finance ministry additionally refused to approve a further provide to smoothly conduct the elections.
The defence ministry said this in reaction to a request from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which had asked the interior ministry to are searching for assistance from the militia to make certain safety in the course of the elections.
In its letter to the interior ministry, the Ministry of Defence apologised that it couldn’t provide the static deployment of Rangers and FC for the imminent by way of-elections as, in line with them, the deployment of the militia changed into no longer viable.
Responding to the indoors ministry’s request for deployment of Rangers and FC forces out of doors the polling stations, the defence ministry instructed the home secretary that the armed forces and civil armed forces were currently engaged in border management and internal protection control.
Threats of terrorism are at the upward push inside the country, said the ministry. Moreover, the military will be engaged within the census method from February 27 to April 3 this yr, it changed into stated.
However, the Punjab Rangers might be to be had because the Quick Response Force in the course of these elections.
On the alternative hand, replying to the ECP’s letter, the Ministry of Finance asked the authority to delay its demand for a further provide within the wider national hobby, assets stated.
The finance ministry requested the election fee to postpone its request for the grant until the financial situation of the U.S Improves.
IGs of Punjab, KP on security challenges during polls
Over the final couple of days, the top police officers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have apprised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of the uphill safety undertaking during the imminent elections following the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies.
“It can’t be presumed that the subsequent elections could be absolutely non violent,” Inspector-General of KP Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said in a meeting concerning polls inside the province presided over by using Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The IG stated that there was a shortfall of 57,000 police employees for security in the course of the polls. The employees shortfall can’t be met even after looking for the offerings of the Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan police, he stated.
Ansari brought that help of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps may be required.
The provincial police leader also shared information regarding assaults on regulation enforcers in KP. “In 2022, 494 assaults were finished on the police, while 119 policemen have been martyred,” he said and delivered that regulation enforcers have been attacked forty six instances in 2023, and as a end result, ninety three policemen have lost their lives.
Meanwhile, Punjab IG Police Dr Usman Anwar additionally informed CEC Raja during a assembly at the ECP about the undertaking of undertaking elections amid growing threats of terrorism inside the province.
“The police operation in progress in South Punjab’s rural regions and other districts of the province could be completed in 4 to 5 months. It may be a hard undertaking to behavior elections till the operation is concluded,” he said whilst highlighting the threats of terrorism increasing in Punjab.
The Punjab top police officer instructed individuals of the meeting that 412,852 police personnel are required for safety during the polls. However, the number of cops in Punjab is 11,5000. “300,000 extra squaddies might be had to meet this shortfall. The services of the Pakistan Army and Rangers may be had to meet this shortfall.”
IG Anwar also stated that 213 terror incidents have been avoided from taking place seeing that December 2022 due to earlier facts. He delivered that almost all districts in the province have corporation reviews about terror incidents.
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