In response to stationing personnel of the Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers outside polling stations in Karachi, Hyderabad and Thattha, the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) has "excused" itself from providing the large-scale "static stationing".
According to the Ministry of Interior, the matter of security forces' deployment was discussed with the Military Operations directorate at GHQ, which responded that such a huge number of static deployments were not feasible, and that first-level static deployment were the provincial government's responsibility.
According to reports, the GHQ had already informed the interior ministry that high number of static deployments at sensitive polling locations were "not possible", and that it would further not be practicable to provide security protection for election personnel and equipment.
The GHQ will still deploy paramilitary forces to provide security cover outside 500 sensitive polling stations. According to the GHQ, the Election Commission should designate 500 important polling stations so that Rangers could be stationed outside of those locations.
"An effort will be made to provide required static deployment of Rangers at these polling stations in support of police as a one-time measure," according to the Ministry of Interior's Civil Armed Forces (CAF) section.
The development comes after intelligence agencies cited “severe security threats”, recommending the ECP postpone the second phase of the local government elections.
A meeting of senior civil and military intelligence officials "responsible for national security" was held in Karachi, sources said, adding that the participants expressed “severe concerns” over upcoming LG polls in Sindh.
Strong networks of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) exist in the province, the meeting was told. According to sources, security has been put at "high alert" in Karachi since Friday night.
The country has suffered a sharp spike in terror incidents in recent months, after the TTP ended a ceasefire with Islamabad late last year.
Pakistan's civil and military leadership has vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism — but the threat still persists.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the matter of security forces' deployment was discussed with the Military Operations directorate at GHQ, which responded that such a huge number of static deployments were not feasible, and that first-level static deployment were the provincial government's responsibility.
According to reports, the GHQ had already informed the interior ministry that high number of static deployments at sensitive polling locations were "not possible", and that it would further not be practicable to provide security protection for election personnel and equipment.
The GHQ will still deploy paramilitary forces to provide security cover outside 500 sensitive polling stations. According to the GHQ, the Election Commission should designate 500 important polling stations so that Rangers could be stationed outside of those locations.
"An effort will be made to provide required static deployment of Rangers at these polling stations in support of police as a one-time measure," according to the Ministry of Interior's Civil Armed Forces (CAF) section.
The development comes after intelligence agencies cited “severe security threats”, recommending the ECP postpone the second phase of the local government elections.
A meeting of senior civil and military intelligence officials "responsible for national security" was held in Karachi, sources said, adding that the participants expressed “severe concerns” over upcoming LG polls in Sindh.
Strong networks of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) exist in the province, the meeting was told. According to sources, security has been put at "high alert" in Karachi since Friday night.
The country has suffered a sharp spike in terror incidents in recent months, after the TTP ended a ceasefire with Islamabad late last year.
Pakistan's civil and military leadership has vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism — but the threat still persists.