Troops to stay outside polling stations: ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said Thursday that army troops deployed for poll-related security duties will stay outside the polling stations for the general elections slated for February 8.

The notification to this effect issued here says the election commission, in exercise of its powers, has obtained the services of Pakistan Armed Forces in terms of Article 245 of the Constitution and the Civil Armed Forces under Article 220 of the Constitution to assist it and ensure security arrangements for the conduct of the General Elections 2024 scheduled to be held on February 8 in the prescribed manner.

It reads: “Pakistan Armed Forces/Civil Armed Forces shall assist in the provision of a secure environment by deploying in Quick Reaction Force (QRF) mode and outside selected most sensitive polling stations from February 5, 2024, to February 10, 2024, to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of elections in a free, fair, and transparent manner.” The notification was issued two days after the federal cabinet had approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and civil armed officials for security during the upcoming elections.

A senior ECP official said that no army personnel will be deployed inside a polling station. He pointed out that Section 83(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, requires all officials posted at a polling station, including officials of law-enforcing agencies, to render their fullest cooperation to the presiding officer for the maintenance of order and ensuring uninterrupted voting.

The notification said the civil armed forces will remain deployed at the Printing Corporation of Pakistan, Islamabad, and Pakistan Post Foundation, Islamabad, from February 8 to make foolproof security arrangements during the printing, stacking and storage of ballot papers. “Pakistan Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces (CAFs) shall assist in security during transportation of ballot papers and election material from printing presses to respective district returning officers’ offices as per the transportation plan issued by the competent authority. Pakistan Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces shall deploy a sufficient number of mobile vigilance teams/Quick Reaction Force (QRF) reserves in all constituencies as part of a tiered security mechanism to provide a secure environment wherein police will remain as the first-tier responders, Civil Armed Forces as the second tier responders, and army as the third tier responders, respectively,” it reads.

The notification says these forces shall also deploy a sufficient number of troops outside selected, most sensitive polling stations as per their threat assessment, besides carrying out reconnaissance of each constituency from the date of the issuance of this notification.

It says Pakistan Armed Forces and CAFs shall provide security during the transportation of election material from the offices of returning officers to polling stations and back, after the completion of polling and counting.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan in terms of Article 220 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 5 and Section 193 of the Elections Act, 2017 (XXlll of 2017) hereby authorises that each designated officer-in-charge of Pakistan Armed Forces/Civil Armed Forces (Gazetted as well as Junior Commissioned Officer) deployed for providing security as per mandate shall exercise powers of Magistrate First Class for the entire period of deployment in respect of offences punishable under Sections 176, 177, 183 and 194 of the aforesaid act and to take cognizance of any such offences under any of the clauses of sub-section (1) of Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and to try and such offences in a summary way under the provisions of the said code relating to summary trials.

“The troops so detailed are empowered by the federal government to exercise the powers under Section 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), as amended, for the duration of deployment,” the notification reads.

Previously, during the 2018 general elections, army personnel were also deployed inside the polling stations. At that time, the army had deployed 371,388 troops at 85,000 polling stations, the largest-ever in Pakistan’s history.

The army had recently agreed to deploy troops and provide the requisite support for the safe conduct of elections. This development happened in response to the commission’s request for civil and military security personnel, addressing the shortfall of over 277,000 personnel needed for a safe nationwide electoral exercise. In a related development, the election commission also issued a code of conduct for the security personnel belonging to the armed forces deputed for the elections. The code requires the armed forces to assist it in the conduct of general elections by providing a secure environment for easy and secure access for voters to polling stations.

The code calls upon the armed personnel to remain impartial and neutral throughout the election process in general and during the voting process in particular, and not to act in favour of or against any political party or candidate.

According to the code, armed personnel would facilitate the provision of a secure environment to enable DROs, ROs, presiding officers, and polling staff to accomplish their assigned tasks. The code calls for observing politeness, displaying immaculate behaviour while dealing with voters and election staff, and at the same time staying firm and just in dealing under the law while addressing any situation.

The code reads: “While performing their duties, they are supposed to first report to the presiding officer, along with informing their chain of command of any irregularity, issue, or malpractice having the potential to create law and order or security situation. They observe outside of the selected most sensitive polling station (where deputed) and act according to the instructions issued in that regard. In this case, if the PO does not act to prevent the commission of any reported irregularity, issue, or malpractice, the security staff will immediately inform the RO concerned.”

The code asks the personnel to abide by all the relevant laws and continuously work to gain the general public’s trust by ensuring a safe environment and maintaining law and order during the election process, whereas accredited observers and media persons are allowed to enter a polling station.

The election commission, through the code, directed the personnel not to stop any eligible voter from entering the polling station, except the ones found in possession of weapons, explosive or undesirable items, or those who create disturbance and incitement to act of violence or an action that is prejudice to the national safety and interests of the country.

The code asks the personnel not to take into their custody any election material, including ballot papers, and not to enter into arguments with any candidate, election agent, polling agent, observer, or media person in any manner. It says: “Do not interfere in any manner whatsoever in the functions of the presiding officer, assistant presiding officer, or polling officer.”

It asked the personnel not to respond on their own to an apparent irregularity outside a polling station and to bring the matter to the knowledge of the presiding officer and take the necessary direction from him in the matter. “In case irregularity or malpractice continues, he shall inform his officer in charge immediately so that necessary legal action can be taken.” Likewise, the personnel are asked not to interfere in the counting process in any manner and to perform their duties outside the polling station diligently so that the counting process can be completed peacefully.

Meanwhile, the election commission issued another public advisory, cautioning the public about the proliferation of fake calls on WhatsApp and noting that “there have been reports of a series of fake calls and messages impersonating the chief election commissioner.” In a statement issued here, the commission advised individuals who receive suspicious calls or messages purporting to be from senior officers of the commission or any other high-ranking ECP official to verify the authenticity through a landline by directly contacting the official of ECP.

The ECP emphasised that these members should refrain from taking any action on calls or messages until they have been thoroughly verified by the chief election commissioner’s staff officer. Moreover, the election commission urged the entire election staff, including DROs and ROs, to strictly adhere to these guidelines and avoid immediate action on calls or messages until complete verification.