ECP requisitioned armed forces for assist under constitution: ISPR

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor on Saturday said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requisitioned armed forces under Article 220 and 245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair and transparent conduct of Elections 2018. In a statement, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said that the armed forces shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe and secure environment. He further said that the armed forces will perform well their assigned duties.  

ECP has requisitioned Pak Armed Forces under Article 220&245 of Constitution to assist them in free, fair & transparent conduct of Elections2018. Shall undertake this mandated duty enabling people of Pakistan to freely exercise their democratic right in safe & secure environment. pic.twitter.com/nC2MMKSKRG

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) July 21, 2018

Earlier yesterday while addressing to the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior, the ISPR director general rejected the notion that the security forces have any direct role in general elections. He clarified that the army personnel are only following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s instructions. “There were some rumours that army personnel had been issued different orders, this is completely baseless,” he said. “We do not have any link with the elections; we are only working on the election commission’s directives to improve the law and order situation. We do not have a direct role in polls.”