ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Thursday directed the army to ‘assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) strictly within the bounds of given mandate’ for the conduct of upcoming general elections, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. During a visit to the Army Elections Support Center Rawalpindi on Thursday, General Bajwa was given a detailed briefing about plan for provision of assistance to the ECP for free, fair and transparent conduct of the forthcoming elections. “The COAS directed that army shall assist ECP strictly within the bounds of given mandate and as per ECP’s code of conduct,” the ISPR statement said. The army chief said that working in synchronisation with other elements of security apparatus, all efforts be put in to ensure secure and safe environment, enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right. The ECP has decided to deploy army personnel inside and around polling stations to ensure security during the polls. Published in Daily Times, July 20th 2018.