By IRNA
Islamabad : Troops will be deployed at sensitive areas to help police and paramilitary forces in maintaining peace during the next month parliamentary elections, the Interior Minister said Tuesday.
Pakistan is set to hold elections on January 8.
“Army would be available at the request of provincial governments for security but they will not intervene in the election process,” Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said.
Benazir Bhutto rejected a proposal about the deployment of private volunteers at polling stations, fearing they may be used for rigging the polls.
“If the army is required they will be deployed only for security at sensitive stations,” Khan told a private TV channel.
He said troops will join flag marches with the police and paramilitary forces across the country, adding that the army would be at standby and would be sent if they are required.
The minister said the provinces have formulated lists of sensitive areas and the federal government will take security measures after the lists are received.
“Army would be deployed to take care of the sensitive stations,” Khan said. He said that the provinces have marked certain sensitive polling stations.
He said that elections are also held in the troubled Swat valley in the country’s northwest, adding that people have filed nomination papers and are engaged in campaign. He said that peace committees have also been formed in the valley by the local population to help maintain peace.
The Election Commission has meanwhile ruled out handing over of election duties to the army and said that police and paramilitary forces will be performing the duties. However, the Commission Secretary General Kanwar Dilshad said that army could be deployed at certain sensitive areas only for maintaining security duties.