ECP meeting over army deployment in by-polls underway

ISLAMABAD: Acting Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani Monday said that army help had been sought for holding peaceful by-polls at sensitive and most sensitive polling stations, but we have been told that the army facing difficulties in providing required co-operation, as it has already been put on red alert due to flood situation in the country, Geo News reported.

ECP meeting with Acting CEC, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani in the chair is in progress here. Secretary Defence Asif Yasin, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Secretaries, Provincial Election Commissioners, Chairman NDMA and Chairman NADRA also attending this meeting.

District Retuning Officers presented their reports in the meeting in which it has been demanded that army should be deployed inside and outside at all sensitive/most sensitive polling stations.

Addressing the meeting Acting CEC said that the government has already put the army on red alert due to floods and he has been told that the army facing difficulties in providing required co-operation

Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani said that the decision to hold by-polls in the flood-affected areas would be taken after the receipt of recommendations of the concerned organizations. He further said that the transparency of the May 11 elections, except in few constituencies, was accepted by all.