ECP orders Rangers deployment for NA-246 by-polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ordered the deployment of Rangers both inside and outside of the polling stations on the polling day in NA-246, Karachi, on April 23.
According to a senior official of the Election Commission, the decision was taken in the light of a request made by the Sindh Election Commission, calling for the deployment of the army and Rangers for the upcoming by-elections in Karachi’s NA-246.
He maintained that no decision was taken on the request for the involvement of army personnel, as was requested by the Sindh Election Commission. The Rangers commander will have the powers of first class magistrate on the polling day.
The Sindh poll chief had approached the Election Commission through a letter, written to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan. The call for the deployment of the army and Rangers was made by the PTI leadership in view of the political temperature going up between the PTI and MQM.
Meanwhile, the newly-appointed Secretary of the Election Commission Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad emphasised the need for ensuring transparency and fairness in the elections. He said that only through transparency in elections, democracy could be strengthened.
The ECP secretary was of the view that financial autonomy and wide-ranging electoral reforms were mandatory and he would try his level best to deliver on these matters.Speaking at an introductory meeting with the staff members of the Election Commission Secretariat here, he contended that the nation had high expectations from the Election Commission, adding that they needed to work with more dedication and commitment to produce the desired results.
The ECP secretary called on the staff members to perform their national duty without coming under pressure from any side. The Election Commission officers and staffers held out an assurance to the secretary to come up to his expectations.