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Old Sunday, April 14, 2013
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Too much reliance on Army


The 70th Formation Commanders' Conference, chaired by Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, held at the Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday approved the security plan devised for the security to the upcoming general elections in the country. Obviously, the Pakistan Army is likely to concentrate hard on the security mainly in the restive Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. The paramilitary troops, however, will be deployed at other sensitive polling stations across the country. The Election Commission of Pakistan has identified over 30, 000 out of a total 80,000 polling stations as sensitive that the Election Commission believes should be given under the direct control of the Army. In view of the preoccupation of the Army in FATA and Balochistan, the deployment of the Army troops on 30,000 polling stations is a bit unjustified call. Despite several meetings between the election staff and the GHQ, the question of the security is still unclear.

The Election Commission is heavily relying on the Army deployment for holding peaceful elections next month. The fears are that the massive deployment of Army troops at each sensitive polling station may add unwarranted pressure and more importantly can affect the numerical strength of the troops. Better it would be if the Army is kept in reserve at district and tehsil headquarters to assist the police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, Pakistan Coast Guards and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts in case of any eventuality and after a major reshuffle, the Rangers should be assigned the security duty on 1150 sensitive locations in Sindh. Similarly, immediately the Election Commission should ask for a massive shake-up in the Levies staff, serving in Balochistan. The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA should directly put under the vigilance of Army to quell the movement of the terrorists. The conduct of the most of Levies personnel posted in FATA is questionable; hence needs a reshuffle to break their connivance with unwanted elements if there any.

The fresh postings and transfers of the security agencies including police prior to the elections will refresh the confidence of the masses in the security staff. The targeted operation in Quetta and Karachi has created a positive impact on the law and order situation. The presence of some members of the extremist group in Punjab is a matter of serious concern. Showing no laxity, the police should unleash a thorough search operation across the board before the elections failing which the situation in the province may prove dangerous. The good omen is that the top military brass of the Army and the Election Commission of Pakistan are on the same page and are determined to cooperate with each other to ensure a comprehensive security plan for a peaceful transfer of power from the interim government to the elected representatives to steer the country out the present mess.

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/category/46/
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