By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : The Pakistan government Tuesday began deploying thousands of soldiers and paramilitary forces at sensitive places across the country to provide security for the upcoming general elections.
Officials said the army and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers were already on stand-by at many places and troops were being deployed at other places that had been declared sensitive in the four provinces.
The Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said nobody will be allowed to disrupt the general elections on Feb 18.
“All elements, including those who want to boycott the polls and those who want to disrupt the election process will be dealt with very strictly,” Khan told reporters on the sidelines of an official function here Tuesday.
President Pervez Musharraf has said the army will be deployed during and after the election to ensure law and order across the country.
Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the army will have no role in the election process, but will only provide security to ensure the polls are held peacefully.