Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz clarified on Wednesday that no security personnel will enter polling booths during the nationwide polls next month.
After formal approval for the army deployment for nationwide poll security, Haris Nawaz explained that while no security official would be inside the room where polling is taking place, Rangers personnel could be summoned inside the booth if necessary.
He emphasized the Election Commission’s core responsibility to conduct general elections, with administrations assisting in the process. Haris highlighted the ban on the exhibition of arms during polls and stated that police contingents would be deployed outside polling stations. Lady health staffers would perform election duties at women’s polling booths.
Haris urged higher authorities to establish a fool-proof mechanism to prevent any trouble during the electoral event. Regarding security expenditures, he stated that there was no shortage of monetary resources, as the provincial government had already disbursed funds to law enforcement agencies (LEAs), including police, Rangers, and schools.
He provided details on the number of polling stations, mentioning 5,954 normal polling stations and over 12,000 sensitive and very sensitive ones. A total of 122,000 police officials and 1,984 Pakistan Army soldiers would be deployed for election security.
Responding to security threats, Haris acknowledged potential risks but assured that maximum steps were being taken to maintain law and order. He mentioned the involvement of various departments, including anti-corruption, forest, Frontier Corps (FC), and lady health workers in the security efforts.
The caretaker federal cabinet had approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces to assist in holding free, fair, and peaceful general elections on February 8.
The Election Commission of Pakistan issued a “Code of Conduct for Security Personnel,” directing them to perform their duties without bias. Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar formed a high-level committee to oversee security for the polls, headed by Federal Minister Shahid Ashraf Tarar.
