Punjab govt demands army deployment in second phase of LB polls

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government on Saturday sought Pakistan Army deployment once again during upcoming second phase of local bodies (LB) elections due on November 19 in the Punjab.
According to Secretary of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, the Punjab government wrote a letter to ECP asking it to depute army personnel inside and outside the polling stations to avoid any mishap.
ECP secretary stated that appointing army soldiers at every polling station was difficult.
He said that the Army authorities would be asked about the availability of the army personnel for deputing on polling day. He said Hafizaabd and Sanghar had been declared as most sensitive districts during the second phase of LB polls in the Punjab and Sindh. He said it was being considered to deploy army at every polling station of these two districts.
On the other hand, the ECP would hold a key session over second phase of LB polls on November 13.
The polling will be held in Khanewal, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahuddin, Attock and Jhelum.
Reportedly, a total of 25 million ballot papers will be printed for the Punjab while the distribution of ballot papers will begin on November 12.