Daily Times

The Ministry of Defence has reportedly agreed to provide 350,000 troops for election duty as requested by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

According to reports, the defence ministry has decided to call back army, air force and navy personnel who retired during the last two yearsfor the purpose. The retired personnel will also have same powers that are enjoyed by the serving military personnel during the election duty. The army will take over security of the Printing Corporation ofPakistan, which publishes ballot papers, fromJune 27, whereas it will take up election duty four days prior to the July 25polls.

The ECP had sent a summary to the defence ministry seeking 350,000 troops for the election duty. The commission had declared that army personnel would be posted inside and outside the polling stations as well as at the state-owned printing press.Though the army has been deployed during every general election in the past, such a high number of troops has been sought for the first time.With 350,000 personnel made available, two security officials will be posted inside and outside each at around 85,000 polling stations across country.

The Pakistan Army had also spared around 200,000 troops to conduct the sixth population and housing census of the country last year.

As per revised election schedule issued by the ECP on June 8, the last day to submit nomination papers was extended from June 8 to June 11.The electoral body had said that the date for submission of nomination papers was extended to facilitate the political parties.The deadline to complete the scrutiny of nomination papers was changed from June 14 to June 19.The last day to file appeals against any objection to the decisions of the returning officers was extended tillJune 22.The verdicts on appeals will be announced byJune 27, after which the revised list of candidates will be issued onJune 28.Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers onJune 29, and the electoral body will announce the final list of candidates the same day.The electoral symbols will be issued to the candidates onJune 30.

Published in Daily Times, June 22^nd 2018.