The AJK Election Commission requisitioned the army to provide “backup” support for the July 25 polls
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- The Ministry of the Interior notified that 1,600 Pakistani Rangers and 4,000 Border Police Forces would be “standby” to perform voting tasks.
- AJK CEC stated that the Pakistani Army’s troops “can only be used for Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and administrative tasks”.
- According to sources from the Election Commission, “standby” means that the army will not appear in the polling station.
After Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s election commission requisitioned the army, the Pakistani army will be on “standby” to assist the legislative assembly election on July 25.
The Ministry of the Interior issued a notice on July 8 stating, “I am pleased to authorize the deployment of 1,600 Pakistani Ranger (Punjab) troops (standby) and 4,000 border police forces at highly sensitive polling stations to carry out Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The general election of the Legislative Assembly will be held on July 25, 2021″.
The notice continues to point out that the specific deployment date will be determined by the AJK government, its election committee, and relevant Pakistani authorities in accordance with the laws enforced by the country.
A source at the AJK Election Committee stated that the term “standby” means that the military will not be present in the polling station.
It has been approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Federal Cabinet to deploy troops to AJK.
On July 8, AJK Chief Election Commissioner and retired judge Abdul Rashid Sulehria wrote to the Prime Minister.
He stated in the letter that the government is doing its utmost to ensure that the elections are conducted in “the most fair, wise and transparent manner so that voters have a fair chance to exercise their basic voting rights without any intimidation or coercion.”
The Chief Electoral Commissioner went on to say: “As an independent constitutional entity, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Electoral Commission shall obtain the necessary assistance from the executive agencies of the AJK government and all 45 constituencies of the Federal and Provincial Governments of Pakistan, which are located in Jammu. The AJK and Pakistani territories of Kashmiri refugees settled in different parts of Pakistan.”
Sulehria said that in order to ensure the above situation, the AJK Election Commission earlier requested the deployment of troops from the Pakistani army, “except for the Pakistani Rangers and other civilian armed forces in Pakistan, we are totally inclined.”
He pointed out that the deployment of the army “has always been a universal request of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir” and was therefore an issue raised at the meeting of the parties on June 18.
CEC pointed out that the people have full confidence in the army and require them to attend all occasions in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir general election. “The reason is obvious. Most of the constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly are located along the Line of Control (LoC). Only the Pakistani army can become a member of the army. The saviour of the people, to ensure that they are protected and a favorable environment, so that voters can vote freely at the polling station without worrying about hostile shooting by the Indian army.”
He asked to ensure “through his own efforts to help create an environment for the electors to freely exercise their right to vote” and ensure the deployment of Pakistani troops.
The letter went on to elaborate on the exact requirements of the Election Commission for the troops.
“However, it is clarified that the troops of the Pakistani army can only be used as a quick reaction force (QRF) and administrative tasks, including transporting voting materials and voters in a protected way at the far-furlong polling station,” read the letter.
“Army troops should be deployed outside the polling station without creating visibility during the election process near the polling station,” it continued.
“If your kind self can help us deploy at least 19,000 Pakistani army soldiers for the above purposes, in addition to deploying the necessary number of civilian armed forces in accordance with the real requirements of AJK, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission will be very grateful. CEC concluded in its letter to the Prime Minister.
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