Army to oversee by-polls in Lahore, Okara, Lodhran

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday decided for deployment of the army and the Rangers in three NA and two Punjab Assembly constituencies to ensure trouble-free bye-elections there.
The Election Commission announced that the decision was made keeping in view of the volatile law and order situation in the country as well as demands of Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab, DROs/ROs concerned and political parties.
The security personnel would be deployed in the by-elections of NA-122 constituency of Lahore-V, NA-144 Okara-II, NA-154 Lodhran-I, PP-147 Lahore-XI and PP-16 Attock-II.
On this count, letters have been sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Secretary, Ministry of Defence, the government of Pakistan, asking them to issue necessary directions for deployment of sufficient strength of Punjab Rangers/Pakistan Army for these constituencies under intimation to the Election Commission of Pakistan. By-election in NA-122, NA-144, NA-154 and PP-147 is scheduled to be held on October 11, 2015 and in PP-16 Attock-II on October 06, 2015.
Political temperature is skyrocketing in almost all these five constituencies, as a tough electoral contest is being anticipated between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
If one goes by the record of bye-elections in the past, the ruling party has been winner in overwhelming majority of such electoral bouts. The measure by the Election Commission is significant also in the context of PTI’s public meeting here on October 04, wherein its Chairman Imran Khan is expected to adopt a new strategy against the four ECP members, whom he wants to go home for their alleged role in 2013 election rigging.
He fears that there would be a question mark on the bye-elections and the upcoming local bodies elections, in the presence of the incumbent Election Commission members, who have rejected his demand to step down and that they had any role in the general election.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has drawn attention of the members of the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies to submit to the Election Commission by September 30, 2015, yearly statements of assets and liabilities of their own, their spouses and dependents. This is a mandatory requirement under Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and Section 25A of the Senate (Election) Act, 1975.