Defense Secretary, IG Punjab apologizes for election security

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan has said that the IG Police and Chief Secretary Punjab have apologized for providing foolproof security for the April 30 election.

In the announcement issued after the various meetings held in the Election Commission under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, it has been said that the Chief Secretary and IG Punjab have apologized for providing foolproof security for the election on April 30.

According to the statement, in the meeting, IG Punjab gave a briefing on the security arrangements in the province and said that the police are currently doing duty with the census enumerators while there will be additional duty of the police personnel during Ramadan as well.

IG Punjab further said that during the election 2018, 3 thousand 330 election campaign programs were held, the deployment of police as well as Pakistan Army personnel is very important for the election.

Chief Secretary Punjab said in the briefing that currently 40,000 teachers are on census duty, it is not possible to hold transparent elections in the current situation.

The Defense Secretary briefed the Election Commission on the security situation across the country and informed that the security of the borders and the country is the top priority for the Pakistan Army.

The Election Commission says that the Defense Secretary has refused to provide Pakistan Army personnel for election security, and Pakistan Army can only be provided as a quick response force for the election. Pakistan Army soldiers cannot be provided for static duty of elections.