Election troops plan approved by commanders

Pakistan Army's top leadership on Monday approved 'troop deployment plan for general election' in view of fast deteriorating security situation across the country. According to an ISPR press release, a special Corps Commanders' Conference was held at General Headquarters here which was presided over by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The sole agenda of the conference was to focus on the demand of civilian government for provision of security during the general elections. "All issues pertaining to troops' deployment, as per the discussion with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Federal and the Provincial Government were considered and a deployment plan was finalised," the statement added. Defence sources claimed that the army personnel would be deployed up to 15 days in various parts of the country to make sure that election would be held in a peaceful manner.
The personnel of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps will be deployed at all sensitive districts and other areas in Balochistan on May 1, a provincial official said. Around 21,000 Army and Frontier Corps will take their place of assignment on May 1 and continue to perform their security duties till May 15. Earlier, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan informed the media that there were an estimated 20,000 sensitive polling stations throughout the country which would be provided security with the assistance of provincial corps commanders.
Sources said in the previous corps commanders' meeting chaired by General Kayani, providing as many as 40,000 armed personnel to be deployed on the call of provincial governments was discussed. Secretary ECP, however, categorically said it was a technical subject, and they could not calculate the size of the army required for the protection of polling staff and voters. "Provincial governments would sit with Corps Commanders and chalk out a comprehensive plan of how much security was required by each province," the Secretary remarked.
The ISPR did not release any details on the number of personnel of Pakistan Army to be deployed or their duration of stay in general elections. During the election 2002 and 2008, amounts of Rs 195 million and 120 million were budgeted, to meet the security expenditure as provided by the army.