Pakistan goes to the polls, guarded by 370,000 troops

PAKISTAN has launched its largest ever polling-day security operation amid fears today’s general election will be a target for militant attacks.

More than 370,000 military personnel will guard 85,000 polling stations for the closely fought contest. The poll for 106 million voters comes after a bloody campaign which has seen 175 people killed in less than three weeks.

The deployment, which involves more than four times as many troops as the 2013 election, aims to stop a repeat of that year’s polling day violence which saw 29 people killed.

Yet it in a country which has seen military rule for much of its existence, the operation has also raised concerns that it will form the basis of election day interference by the security forces.

The electoral race to Pakistan’s second ever democratic transition of power has been denounced as the dirtiest ever, with widespread accusations of meddling by the military establishment to favour Imran Khan’s party at the expense of that led by Nawaz Sharif. The country’s human rights commis- sion said earlier this month that it was concerned about “blatant, aggressive and unabashed attempts to manipulate the outcome of forthcoming elections”.

Generals have insisted they back democracy and are only ensuring free and fair elections. A military spokesman said “troops would coordinate with other law enforcement agencies and local administration to ensure a safe and secure environment on the polling day”.

Militant groups have already caused carnage on the campaign trail. An Isil attack on a rally in Baluchistan earlier this month became one of the country’s worst terrorist attacks when 148 were killed. Militant sources inside Isil said considered the election un-islamic and intended to mount more attacks.

Pakistan’s Taliban, the Tehrik-e-taliban Pakistan (TTP), has also joined the bloodshed. Mufti Noor Wali, the newly appointed leader, released a video criticising secular parties and the media.

Campaigning closed on Monday night with polls showing Sharif ’s Pakistan Muslim League neck-and-neck with Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (Pakistan Justice Movement).