No direct role in Pak polls, working as told by EC: Army
Don’t use inappropriate language: Panel to Imran
The Pakistan Army will not have any “direct role” in the conduct of polls on July 25 for which it would deploy a total of 371,000 military personnel at the polling stations across the country, a top military official said today.
Briefing the special session of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor also said that the army would work in aid of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“Three hundred and seventy one thousand army soldiers will be deployed at the countrywide polling stations. The army is also performing its duty at the printing press (for ballots),” he said.
He said the ECP has a code of conduct for the army personnel and they will follow the commission’s instructions.
The Army spokesperson termed as “completely baseless” the rumours that military personnel had been issued ‘different’ orders.
“We do not have any link with the elections; we are only working on the election commission’s directives to maintain the law and order situation. We do not have a direct role in polls,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said.
The Pakistan Army, which enjoys considerable influence over policy decisions in Pakistan, has ruled the country for much of its life since it gained independence 70 years ago.
He also refused to share the details of deployment ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Election Commission on Thursday warned Tehreek-iInsaf chief Imran Khan against using “inappropriate language” for political rivals, days after he kicked up a storm following his “donkey” remark for the supporters of former premier Nawaz Sharif. On July 12, on Sharif and daughter Maryam’s return to Pakistan to surrender themselves to the authorities, the cricketer-turned-politician had said that whoever goes to receive the Sharifs at the airport “must be a donkey”.
of troops, saying, the Army had done it, keeping in view the security situation of each province.